- Departure for Morocco
- Fes arrival, Morocco
- More Fes, Morocco
- Fes Tannery’s & Sufi Music Festival, Morocco
- Meknes, Morocco
- Meknes to Merzouga, Morocco
- Sahara Desert Camp and Dilshad’s birthday, Morocco
- Todra and Dades Gorges, Morocco
- Ait Benhaddou, Tisseldai, & onto Marrakech, Morocco
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Essaouira. Morocco
- Safi, El Jadida and Casablanca, Morocco
The name Marrakech originates from the Amazigh (Berber) words amur (n) kush, which means “Land of God.”
It is the third largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca and Fez, and lies near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, that we had just driven through, from Tisseldai.
Like Fes, it has the Old Medina of narrow winding alleyways, and the new City (Ville Nouvelle). We were in the Old Medina of course. New City is like any other new City in the West.
We did find that Marrakech was a lot more touristic than Fes, and the locals were a lot more aggressive in trying to get the tourist’s business. A lot of people insisted on money to get photographed especially the snake charmers or entertainers in the Medina.
Below are some of the views inside the old Medina
Tourist were much more visible
This vendor was making sandwiches of boiled potatoes and eggs.
Scooters taking over from donkeys
Riad Argan, where we stayed in Marrakech, was one of the best Riads we had stayed at.
Marrakech is famous for its Medina, the Souks and the Djemaa El Fna, which is a large open-air square (like the one in Meknes, only much larger).
We ended up at the Djemaa El Fna that evening and checked it out; see below
Fresh Fruit juice carts in Djemaa El-Fna; all very clean and hygenic
Fried fish dishes, with fries and onion rings 🙂
While listening to one entertainer with a decent size crowd; this baby wanted me to carry her and was very inquisitive, checking us all out. Her name was Zaitoon, and she had the biggest eyes I have ever seen
Zaitoon with the biggest eyes I have seen, and her father; this was her expression all the time
View of the Koutoubia mosque from Djemaa El Fna
Djemaa El Fna view from a rooftop restaurant; Koutoubia mosque minaret in the background
We decided to have dinner here, but this was our first experience at poor service in Morocco, so we left and went to another restaurant where we got better service.
Next day, we did more touring around Marrakech; more scenes below
Koutoubia mosque from a different angle
We wanted to visit this mosque, and we asked when it would open. We were informed it was only open during prayer time, and it would open in 90 minutes, so we decide to explore some more before returning.
Coconut and pineapple for tourists
We then went back to the Koutoubia mosque to check out this old impressive mosque
Mihrab of the Koutoubia mosque; note the wood trays on the sides where one could put ones shoes
Bursting with goods for today’s market
Checking out the fresh fruit juice stand
Chilling on the Nomad restaurant rooftop above the Spice Souk
At the Spice souk, we met Rashid and Fatima; who had just gotten married a few days before. Rashid was from Malaysia/Pakistan and Fatima was Moroccan. Moroccan weddings last 7 days 🙂 and we got the full scoop on Moroccan weddings
After this, we headed to one of the best preserved Medersa’s in Morocco, and that was the Ben Youssef Medersa; with very beautiful stucco, Zellij, tilework, plaster work, and carved wood décor.
This is easily the best decorated building in Marrakech. There were well preserved dorm rooms for over 500 students.
Pics below
Essaouira, Atlantic Coast and Cassablanca next
This entry was posted in Africa, Morocco, Morocco May 2017
Pingback: Essaouira. Morocco - Ali Karim Travelog
Pingback: Ait Benhaddou, Tisseldai, & onto Marrakech, Morocco - Ali Karim Travelog
Being a Professional photographer and a Travel agent I’m totally impressed by all this information and good photography!?
I would like to take a group there.
globaltravel@shaw.ca
1 778 838 3686
Thanks Hakam, for the nice words. Coming from a Professional photographers, I am flattered 🙂
Lets organize a trip together 🙂 🙂
We are planning to go to Marrakech for a few days – would love your restaurant recommendations! Did you like nomad? Love the pics! and we will stay at this Riad if you recommend it as well 🙂 thanks uncle!
Hi Nisha, Definitely recommend the Riad Argan; it is only a 5 room place, but it’s nice and comfortable place inside the old Medina. If you are not used to this, or not so adventurous, then I’d recommend any of the normal chain hotels.
Re: Restaurants, Nomad is for tourists (nice rooftop) as are many of the restaurants in Djemaa El Fna square, and we did not like these restaurants in the square, as they mainly catered to tourists. But they do have a nice decor, good service and decent food. So not a bad choice.
We stuck to smaller local street food joints of local small cafe/restaurants that we normally try and frequent; so difficult to make recommendations as these are all local and not easy to remember where they are in the Medina alleyways; let alone their names. Sorry I could not be of more help with restaurants.
Breakfast is included in the Riad, and its good.
Ali,
Words fail me. What an incredible journey of Morocco you have packed in such a short time!
I loved the photography. You must have “top of the line Camera” to capture such detailed and heart warming shots.
Great recap and great journey…
Amazing photos! Beautifully captured the landscape and local people doing their every day business.
Very picturesque!
very amazing pictorial.Loved how you capture so many intricacies.
So very much detailed. …letting us followers of your journey with a full picture….the visible as well as the dynamics behind the scenes. …love it.
Zul