I haven’t posted for nearly a week but I’m sorry to say – that I’ve been completely selfish by enjoying myself and just chilling-out. For the past few months it’s been pretty intense, and now that I’ve got here on the final leg I’ve kinda run out of steam a bit. I’ve done some tinkering on the bike, repairing my kit, doing my laundry, a couple of days sightseeing and two days of doing nothing. Not a thing. Zilch. Nada. Zero. Which was superb….
Marrakesh…. Before I made this trip I did quite a bit of research about Morocco as initially all I wanted to do was visit Morocco for the winter – which ended up with me going all the way down to Senegal – but I’ve also spoken to people and some have said “Stay away from Marrakesh as its a tourist trap” and some say “Its a great place to visit”.
For me, personally, all I can say is that I love Marrakesh. I just love it. Yes, its a large busy city with lots of modernity on the outskirts – stadiums, hotels, conference and shopping centres – and yet the centre of the city still holds its old charm. As you get to the very centre most of it is old but there are some bits of modernity mingled in-between and it all works well together.
There is the huge square in the centre and from there you go into the old-city – the medina – with its hundreds of narrow streets and alleyways, always with the permanent hustle of people, mopeds and the occasional donkey. There are shops everywhere. Hand-made shoes, trinkets, clothes, jewellery, food – you name it and you can find it. You do get alot of people trying to sell you things, and as you’re walking slowly past a shop and perusing the goods the secret here is not to make eye-contact with the vendor. Just smile and move on because the momeny they make eye contact – they’re onto you…
In the large square there are definitely lots of people who will try to relieve you of your money, the musicians, the snake charmers or the guys with monkeys, but if you don’t want to part with your money don’t go near them. In the daytime the main square is a large market, but by 4pm the market is being dismantled and by 7pm the whole quare is transformed into a giant eatery, with tables, chairs and mobile kitchens. There is food everywhere, and thousands of people eating Harira, Tagine, Spicy Sardines, Mechoui, Briwat, bastilla, Rfissa, Couscous, brochettes – and even Pizza.
I also visited the Bahia and El Badia Palaces, as well as the old Madraasa, and I was completely in awe of these old buildings, especially the old Madrassa and the sheer quality of the carving and inscriptions in the woodwork. What really annoyed me was the sheer number of young women who would be wandering around a building hundreds of years old and yet having no interest in the buildings but posing inside or next to every arch they see for Instagram pictures. Madness…!
On the outskirts are many large shopping centres with huge supermarkets, and I managed to catch up on shopping, plus bits for myself and the bike. I thoroughly enjoyed my visits into the city. Each time I went into the city I would park my bike at an official car park near the main square. It would cost me around £2 for a full day parking. On my last trip into the city, when I went back to the car park the men who run the car park were just sitting down for some food, a huge plate of Bastilla – which is a large sweet meat pie. They invited me to sit down and share it with them. I said thank you but no, and gave them a bag of mixed nuts to say thank you. Big smiles all around.
The Moroccan people are so friendly and helpful, and their kindness comes naturally to them. Yes, there are those who will try to befriend you to sell something, but for most Moroccans, they will go out of their way to be friendly and helpful towards you. This is why I love Morocco so much. The people.
