Morocco Day 1 - Marrakesh

Well its about time I put up some photos from our holiday, after all we've been back for 3 weeks now!

We flew into Marrakesh from Bristol, the boys seemed to enjoy the journey but were also quite excitied about going somewhere new.  Landing in the airport we dodged the dodgy taxi drivers and got on a much cheaper bus into the city.  Marrakesh is an amazing looking city, surrounded by large red walls against the backdrop of the Atlas mountain range.  We got off the bus by the Djeema-el-fna (the main square) and found someone who was willing to show us to our hotel for a small fee.  He took us down alleys, through lanes and what seemed like all over the place to finally get to our hotel.

Upon arriving to the hotel we hit our first and possibly biggest hurdle, the lady spoke French and Arabic, and we spoke English!  Fortunalty for us the manager turned up a bit later who did speak some English.  But I really dislike not being able to converse with people in their own language, and felt really bad that I hadn't brushed up on my french a bit better before we left, but I was too busy!

Anyway after checking in and chilling out, we wrapped up (it is winter there too, and it was chilly in the evenings) and headed out to the main square again for some food and a quick look around.

In the evening in the Djeema-el-fna, all these food stalls appear, it is a very vibrant hustley and bustley, magical place.  We had a tagine at one of the stalls.
Then we headed back as we knew it could all get a bit much for the boys after such a long journey.

So the following day we woke up (late for us at 8), but as breakfast wasn't served until 9 we went out for a morning stroll. We found the....

Orange juice stalls

The dried fruit stalls

More fruit and nuts

The poultry and egg souk

The early morning sun on the not so busy square

Quiet lanes

This was about 9am - it was so quiet, all the shops are still shut

Then we went for our breakfast, coffee, bread and orange juice in our very quiet riad.  the riads are a traditional style of house, where all the rooms are situated around a central courtyard.  Very pretty, but also very quiet!  Or it was until we came along!

I am sure when children are told to be quiet they have to make themselves twice as noisy and silly!

So then we packed up our bag and headed out to see the souks and the city for the day, we didn't get far before we stopped for pancakes!

The street is livening up now

Reubens glasses face

Olive souk

Ben Yousef Mosque - Marrakesh museum

So many beautiful mosaics.  Such attention to detail is put into everything

The courtyard of the museum (again another very quiet place!) with the giants lightshade!

Two very noisy jumping boys!

There was a long dark tunnel that was once used as a Hamman (a communal bath where they would have cleaned before going to pray - I think), the boys loved running up and down the tunnel turning on and off the lights and freaking out the other tourists!

This was the courtyard of the Ali Ben Yousef Merdersa, where students would have stayed when studying the Koran, hundreds of students would have stayed here at one time.

I felt very small as I stood in this magnificent courtyard, surrounded by beautiful mosaics and intricate carved cedar walls and balconies

Tristan and Rowan in  window of the students bedrooms

Back through the souks - Very tired by this time!

The Dyers souk.  I was really looking forward to going here to see them dying the wool and maybe buying some to bring home and knit something up, but by the time we got here I was so tired that I just wanted to sit down, so I saw a man dipping some wool into a huge vat of smelly, hot liquid ("its all natural madam" - Yeah, right!) and got a couple of photos then left for a well needed cuppa!

Finally, a chance to sit down, eat, drink and chill out - well kind of our omlettes were not cooked properly!  Oh well, we managed to get them cooked eventually and after a very long day headed back to rest.