Mind Boggling Marrakesh

After our experiences in Fez, we were feeling a lot more confident about heading into the madness that we'd heard is Marrakesh. I mean, how much crazier could it be, right? (Aren't I naive?)

Marrakesh is like Fez on steroids. I think the largest contributing factor to this is that scooters, motorcycles and small delivery trucks are allowed in the Medina and souks. Of course, it didn't help that one of the very first things we saw was a pedestrian, laying flat in a crosswalk, head bleeding and half-addled. He'd been hit by a reckless scooter driver that had made a crazy manoeuvre around our transport just moments before. (At least, this is my theory, I didn't actually see the accident.) The most distressing part was how the traffic just went around him. (There were people at the scene helping him, but most drivers just merged around, like he was a fallen box or something.)

Street to our Riad

We were now used to the idea of abandoning the vehicle well before we arrived at our hotel and following someone through narrow little streets to find our riad. What we weren't prepared for were the Kamikaze drivers driving their bikes and scooters at full speed through said narrow streets. The way to our riad was actually quite serene, but when we headed out into the lanes of the souks, we were accosted by all number of two-wheeled vehicles, donkeys and mules, not to mention the general crush of humanity. I can't quite describe how completely overwhelming it is. It felt a bit like I was flirting with death. but after a couple of days, I got used to it (so to speak) and didn't feel quite so terrified to step out of doors.

The souks in Marrakesh are definitely tourist oriented, they don't have that normal "day in the life" feeling. Of course, there's tons of fascinating things to see, various qualities of ceramics, textiles, leather goods (the slippers!) metal work, jewellery and clothing, both western and traditional. Then there are the tea shops, restaurants and treat shops. More lacking are the household goods, hardware stores and other normal shops. While it's intense and amazing, it can occasionally feel a bit overdone, at least compared to Fez. 

One of the wider avenues

If you like stuff, Marrakesh is the place for you; the amount of stock is monumental. I can't imagine that it gets turned over with any regularity.

Yup, they have everything

On our second day we decided to try and find the Saadian tombs. It only took three hours to find, including an erroneous trip to the tanneries.

We took a day trip to the seaside town of Essaouira, a pleasant diversion from the buzz of the big city. On the way we stopped at a famous spot, where the local goats have learned to climb trees. It's quite the thing to see.

The fort walls meet the sea and I imagine it was an important fortification for protecting the port and struggling agriculture that exists nearby. 

It's quite famous for its blue doors.

On our way home, a three hour drive, Morocco's football (soccer) team managed to secure a place in the world cup for the first time in 20 years. Complete madness ensued. The streets thronged with people, lined three and four deep on the sidewalks; scooters wove through the stalled traffic some with passengers standing upright on the back, flags flapping off the riders shoulders and groups of cheering fans running through it all. I can't say that I've ever experienced anything like it, not even when Canada won the gold medal in men's hockey in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics...and that was something in itself. Just when we thought Marrakesh couldn't get any crazier.

Our time in Marrakesh came to an end and we went off to the peace of the Atlas Mountains, to a town called Imlil.