Marrakech, Morocco - 1st day of 57 day trip to West Africa

Landing in Marrakech for the first day of a 57 day trip to West Africa was overwhelming and envigorating.

Arrived at the Marrakech airport and found over 500 people in line for passport control, but it only took an hour to get through and looking back, there were even more people in line than when I started. It’s a very busy airport! Took a taxi to the main square of Jemma el Fnaa, and walked to my small riad off the square since cars are not allowed. All 1,000 people from the airport seemed to be at the square along with snake charmers, musicians, henna painters, vendors of fruit juice, sweets, jewelry, sunglasses, toys, kebob, lamps, brass figurines, African masks, baseball caps, purses, baked goods, honey, spices, leather bags, peacocks, Guinea pigs, turtles, scarfs, dresses, magnets, mirrors, and so much more.

After checking in, showering and changing after 20 hours of traveling, I walked to the Koutoubia Mosque, whose tower was the model for the Giralda tower in Seville, which was the model for San Francisco’s Ferry Building. Walking back through the beautiful gardens, I wandered through the walled city. After a dinner of Moroccan salads at a restaurant billed as being in the oldest house in Marrakech, I made my way back to the main square, which was even busier at night. I wandered through the souk, dodging motorcycles and bicycles racing along narrow streets between pushcarts and pedestrians. At one point, I got caught up in a crowd that helped me understand how people can die in a stampede. But even there, people were nice, albeit a bit stressed, and it felt like just part of the vibe of the place to be.

Thankful that my riad was so close to the square, I closed the evening on its rooftop, and had a pot of tea while watching the square from above.

Categories: : Jemma el Fnaa, Marrakech, Morocco