Morocco 2019 Day 5

January 4th, our first real full day in Morocco on the tour, and a busy day it was. A short discussion on photography techniques by Jim at 8AM was followed by an 8:45 bus trip around Marrakesh for any overview of the city. My impressions: clean, traffic chaotic but not as bad as India, terra cotta buildings, no litter or stray dogs, some beggars, but not many.

Entrance to the Bahia Palace

Went to the Medina for the first time.  The Medina is the old city, built within 17 km of wall.  With nine gates, the city wall still exists in its entirety. First visit was to the Bahia Palace.  This is a palace and gardens built in the late 19th century, intended for the grand vizier of the sultan which ended up being named for one of his wives.  It was later used by the French, and became an attraction after Morocco became independent in 1956.

Wonderful vegetation

With four main courtyards, one for each wife, the palace is a maze of rooms and gardens.  No furnishings are displayed but the painting, tiles and carvings on the walls, floors and ceilings more than make up for the lack.

Door panel

Ceiling

Great carving, look at the door too.

After leaving the palace we headed deeper into the Medina, and entered the Souk, the marketplace within the Medina.  Narrow, twisty alleys with horse carts, bicycles, motorbikes, motorcycles and people all trying to get from here to there in the fastest way possible.  Hundreds of tiny shops selling everything under the sun.  Surprisingly clean, with spicy odors everywhere.

Make way....

Our guide Moncaf...into the depths

Hand of Fatima, anyone?

Returning to the hotel we had a workshop with Pam Holland.  A wonderful thread artist, check out her work at iampamholland.com.  After eating hard boiled eggs and mandarins "rescued" from the breakfast buffet, we headed out for our camel ride to be followed by dinner and a show. 

Out into the wastelands

Camels, well, what can I say.  They're noisy but not smelly and seem to observe humanity from a distance, also they have the greatest eyelashes in the animal kingdom.

Dressing up in a caftan and headdress, we headed off into the empty land north of Marrakesh.  Forty minutes later, thighs screaming, we were at the camel owner's house where we were treated to biscuits and honey, mint tea.  The bus was supposed to pick us up there, but couldn't as the electricity lines were too low (well planned, that) so we walked back to the bus...I did over 20,000 steps today.

Next was a dinner and show (I'm tired just writing about it, it was a REALLY long day.)  The venue is a huge operation called Chez Ali, kind of a Disneyland theme, and well done. Dinner in tents, tagine chicken and couscous with vegetables, fruit and mint tea.  Check it out: youtube.com/watch?v=VfJ7YF4lqCA.  Nice horses, too.  Cold cold night, glad I took my puffy jacket, back to the hotel by midnight!