Marrakech Morocco 10-20-08

Hi,
We are in Marrakech staying at the Imperial Holiday Hotel. Ali, our guide wears a jellaba (robes with a hood) each day. One day he wore olive green, next day sunny saffron yellow stripped with see through cream of silk and cotton.

Morocco has 32.7 million people. It is the 57th largest country in the world and the 4th largest country in Afric. It gets very hot in the summer at 45 degrees celsius or 115 degrees FH. In the winter the temperatures drop to -2 degrees C or 28 degree FH.

I rained most of the evening yesterday like cats and dogs coming down filling the gutters to overflowing. Maybe there are no storm system to collect the water, so it just piled up. The temperature ranged from 85 degrees FH to about 60 degrees or less on chilly evenings.

We ate lunch on the second floor of a restaurant across the street from the mosque. The tables were filled with Tajines, a local dish. Some with lamb and prunes, some with beef or chicken and vegetables such as eggplant, peppers, carrots, green beans then olives. Stan had meatball and egg. Curry flavors yellow color of saffron permeated the open air cafe. Tajines were baked in a terra cotta bowl with a conical lid. As the waiter took off the top, steam escaped and the wonderful aroma filled the air.

The guide gave us tips along the way like - Rosemary leaves boiled into a tea with sugar is good for your stomach. Cactus flower pods are peeled and used as Imodium of Morocco.

Along the road side as we road the bus from Casablanca to Marrakech we saw cactus (pear type) growing 5 feet tall and about 3 feet wide in strips around farm plots. This marked off the property lines. The soil is very rocky and it seemed nothing was grown in these plots. Other places had groves of olive trees. Groups of palms dotted some fields.

We stopped in one palm groove to look at some camels. Everything is about paying the guy with things for pictures. Well finally I have some local change so we can do just that.

Today we went through all the things we missed yesterday because of the afternoon’s rain. We went through the narrow streets of the souks. These are bazaar type market places are crowded with people and their wares in small shops. We walked in single file stopping not once in fear that we might get lost as people on motor cycles and walking crowded by. Cycles always have the right of way, so if you hear the honk better hug the side of the narrow walkway.



There were metal sinks hanging in doorways, carpets in another place, teapots on a chain, shoes and slippers in another. Very thin metal jewelry with all colors of beads for but a couple of dirhams - $2.40 US. Looked like things you find in a carnival.

At the end of a long walk through this labyrinth of narrow walkways we stopped at the Pharmacia. Is was air conditioned and we sat round on benches in a circle with the leader (pharmacist) in front. It was like the biggest Tupperware party I have ever been to. All kinds of concoctions were offered and spread on our hands to smell and rub in. At the end, plastic bags were handed to each person and then the list of items started again. Who wanted special cooking spices, hand cream, wrinkle remover, cholesterol blocker and on and on.

Some how I didn't bite and come out of there with nothing. Others in our group had heavy bags of things.

Back through the Souk market to have lunch at the same place as yesterday.

I'm exhausted but off to an open theater tonight to see a horse show and some belly dancing. The show was several miles out of the city. Bus loads of tourists moved through the pathway with men on horse back lining each side. The pageantry was interesting, cheesy and a bit over the top. We ate dinner served in bright red tents. A half of roasted lamb was laid before us on a big platter to rip off parts and find tasty morsels. Then a huge plate of coucous with 7 vegatables. Platters of fruit were then served as dessert. As a vegetarian, is it sometimes a challenge to find more than just bread to eat.

The horse show was held in a large arena. Our guide clued us in to the right seats to see well. Horses road around in some kind of order. Several keen horsemen did Roy Rodgers type of tricks by riding side saddle and other feats lickety split around the arena. A wobbly float over a vehicle came out as a stage for the belly dancer to entertained us for a while, maybe too long a while. A magic carpet suspended on a cable across the arena floated by with some guys on it. By the time the fireworks were on their last sparkle, we were already in the bus. No more comments on this one.

It's an adventure.

Joyce