Central courtyard and fountain in the Ben Youssef Medersa.
Koranic verse in tile and plaster at the Ben Youssef Medersa.
Blast of colour! Blankets, purses and other fabric wares in a shop - where to look first?
Bulk spices for sale.
Marrakech Menara Airport lounge area.
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1) Hire a guide to maximize your experience. I'm not usually one to rely on a guide, preferring to do my research and guide myself. However, Marrakech is a maze of dusty little side streets and alleys. It is all too easy to miss interesting things because you wandered down the wrong one. Also, with a fascinating and ancient culture to learn about, who wouldn't want a local to show you around?
2) The Jemaa el-Fna, or assembly of the dead, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. This is THE place to come to see Marrakech's culture in all its glory, wonder and curiosity. At night when the temperature goes down, people come out of the woodwork to partake of food stalls (be careful!) and enjoy the entertainment. Dancers, whirling dervishes, snake charmers, musicians, water sellers...it's all here, and it's all incredible!
3) Check out the natural pharmacies, even if you don't think you need anything. With products ranging from rosewater face lotions, to creams for healing eczema, to all natural and pure spices for cooking, Marrakech's pharmacies are an experience not to be missed.
4) The Ben Youssef Medersa
5) Stay in a Riad. The one I stayed at, Riad Dar Moulay Ali, was small and partially under construction, but behind its so-called "blind doors" was a palatial oasis where I took more pictures than anywhere else in Marrakech. The cook and butler/doorman took excellent care of us, and we felt safe and welcome.
2) The Jemaa el-Fna, or assembly of the dead, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. This is THE place to come to see Marrakech's culture in all its glory, wonder and curiosity. At night when the temperature goes down, people come out of the woodwork to partake of food stalls (be careful!) and enjoy the entertainment. Dancers, whirling dervishes, snake charmers, musicians, water sellers...it's all here, and it's all incredible!
3) Check out the natural pharmacies, even if you don't think you need anything. With products ranging from rosewater face lotions, to creams for healing eczema, to all natural and pure spices for cooking, Marrakech's pharmacies are an experience not to be missed.
4) The Ben Youssef Medersa
5) Stay in a Riad. The one I stayed at, Riad Dar Moulay Ali, was small and partially under construction, but behind its so-called "blind doors" was a palatial oasis where I took more pictures than anywhere else in Marrakech. The cook and butler/doorman took excellent care of us, and we felt safe and welcome.
Jemaa el Fna at night, from a restaurant balcony.
The Marrakech Menara Airport has a beautiful lounge area where artisans sell their wares. The blankets in this photo were all for sale,
as were the tassles!
as were the tassles!
