10.04.2013

By now we got a handle on Moroccan traffic but driving into Marrakesh was another adventure!

We dived into the down at night, as Mr.Garmin once more brought us right into the Medina,
the old walled part of the city with it's narrow streets and markets
The place is buzzing with life and everybody seems to be out in the evening

The heart of it is the Djemaa-el-Fna. It's a big square surounded by cafes and restauants and the entrance to the souks Foodstalls are errectet every evening offering freshly prepared food. People qeue to get a seat at there favorite stalls and you can get everything from kebabs to grilled sheeps brain ( the latter considered a delicatesse)

It is like a melting pot of cultures that come together to celebrate life. Berbers Arabs, Europeans, jugglers, singers ,dancers, musicans, acrobats, snake charmers,woman offering henna tattoes ,beggers and peddlers Smoke rising from charcoal grill mixing with the sound of the musicians playing traditional songs of the area.

We paid a visit to Jardins Majorelle, a small gem of a botanical garden with succulents, bamboo forests and exotic flowers,and oasis of beauty and peace. Magic! Fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurante bought the house and garden in 1964 and gave it to the people of Marrakech after his death in 2008

The Badi palace and the Saadian tombs are great examples of Moroccos acient architecture, arts and history

And we did ,of course, what everybody does; get lost in the maze of narrow streets of the souks and haggle for bargains. Shop after shop selling carpets, jewellery, pottery, clothes, bags, shoes, brass and copper lanterns, turtles, spices, essences and huile d'Argant