EUROPE BLOG May 26th, 2023 - MARRAKESH

 

5/26/23- Casablanca is not a place I’d consider going to again as it didn’t have much to offer outside of being a business city. With that said, I’m definitely happy to be leaving this morning to Marrakesh.

Our hotel flags down a taxi for us but as soon as the driver sees us he keeps going. I guess he doesn’t like Americans. A moment later, another taxi arrives with a female passenger already inside. They ask her to move to the front seat to make room for us (which she does) then puts Kelvin’s luggage on top of the car without straps. Somehow, it stays on even through the erratic driving.

We’re an hour early, and as we wait another passenger starts smoking inside the terminal causing others to yell at him to go outside. When the train arrives almost 10 minutes late, we find there’s no place to store our luggage except for overhead (which is too small for mine). I find an empty row to put it in, which lasts about an hour before a person claims the seat. It’s here that I have to practically straddle it. Also, the old man behind us kept playing Candy Crush on his phone as an insanely high volume.

The train arrives around 12:15pm and our hotel pickup is not there to greet us (which I figure because they never confirmed they received my message that I requested a ride). Instead, we locate a taxi at the station for half the cost ($10 US).

Our first impression of our hotel (Riad Lena & Spa) is not the best as it appears to be run by a single person frantically moving through paperwork to find our reservation. He does provide us “welcome tea” on the rooftop while we wait. Once in the room, I’m surprised to find the shower not behind a closed door. Glad I took one yesterday. The internet also barely works from our floor, which is a bummer.

Finally, we’re ready to explore Marrakesh’s souk market (not before locking our room door with a pad lock). As soon as we step out into the market streets, several motor bikes zip past us. We can’t even go a few steps without having to get out of the way of more bikes going in both directions. This is definitely a different world here. At least the shop owners are more relaxed, allowing us to browse without being pushy.

We make it out of the market area, buy some bread from a vendor for literally 10 cents and continue toward Badi Palace. On our way, I’m stopped by a local trying to tell me Badi is closed as he shows me his stash of stuff. Knowing this scam, we circle around and see it’s actually open. I mean come on, it’s a ruined palace, it’s not closed.

Badi Palace is from 1578, commissioned by sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian dynasty. How do I know this? Because I looked it up for you. It’s a large complex and quite interesting to roam around in (with tunnels, caves and artwork, all for only $7 US). They even have stork nests around.

It’s now close to 4:30pm and we’re ready to head back (and of course we see a long hauling truck trying to make its way into the medina walls, blocking our way back in). The walk has taken a toll on us, along with the 85 degree weather, so we find a KFC to get some safe food for today and rest. We still have two more full days to explore so should be interesting what we find.