Today we met our guide and driver after breakfast for a full day of touring.
First, we drove out of the Medina to the new city of Marrakesh, for a driving tour of the surrounding area. We saw the new imperial palace, the Royal opera house, modern malls and housing. Our guide wanted us to understand the old and the new sides to Marrakesh.
Returning to the old, the next stop was Koutoubia Minaret with its orange groves, waterways and fountains. We saw some curious men in coloured dress and hats and were told that these were traditional water carriers (but they don’t need to carry water to Marrakesh anymore so they are just a tourist attraction). I guess they are the equivalent of our Beefeaters… but Beefeaters still have some sort of function, don’t they?
Next was the Saadien Tombs to see the resting place of the Saltans. The tombs are beautiful, decorated with marble, intricately carved plaster and Zelig mosaic made from glazed tiles. You have to go through a little narrow walk way to get in. Interesting story about that… the rulers who succeeded the Saltans (the Alaouites) feared the love the population had for the Saltans and so they built a huge wall around the tombs to ensure they did not become a focus for dissent.
Onwards to the Bahia Palace. The palace is, well, a palace, with large courtyards, gardens and pools and pavilions. To be honest the most interesting part was the ceiling decorations and the mosaics. It was a gallery of intricate mosaic artwork and carvings. A real testaments to the craftsmanship of the time.
Next was the Jewish quarter and the Synagogue Salat Al Moussa. This was a tiny little Synagogue with a central courtyard, music room, prayer room and school. I was fascinated by the history and plight of the Moroccan Jews, refugees of the Spanish Inquisition.
Moving on, we visited the Kasbar and were taken to a traditional carpet weaving workshop. I managed to offend the shop keeper by saying that I did not want to buy a carpet pretty early on in the tour and we were all kicked out of the shop! I felt really bad. At this point our guide thought it best we stop for lunch.
After lunch we explored the Souqs. A maze of little walkways and tunnels with hundreds of tiny workshops lining the paths. We visited the dying quarter, iron quarter, lamp makers, wood workers, pottery quarter… the list goes on. We were introduced to the business owners of each of the establishments we visited and we were shown the processes and techniques they use to make their merchandise. I tried to be restrained but there were just so many beautiful products and I am rubbish at bartering, so I spent half out holiday budget in a day! My favourite shop was the lamp makers just for the shear skill they demonstrated. It was a pretty amazing afternoon.
The tour ended at the heart of the Medina, Djema El Fna, a night market and bazaar hosting snake charmers, musicians, jugglers and fortune tellers. Things were only just getting ready for the evening event when we arrived so there wasn’t a lot to see. We will definitly have to wonder back there tomorrow or on our last night. I don’t think Phil was very impressed by the snakes!
- Hippie -