The Case Of The Missing …. Case
After an uneventful (and reasonably short) flight we landed in Marrakech on Friday (very) early morning. Long queues at the customs to get our passports stamped. So sleepy we could hardly keep our eyes open. Lots of French speaking persons waiting, like us, to be officially allowed into the country…A numerous family right beside us, with a cute white dog in a little bag. The dog looked bored as well, as I tried to socialise. After almost an hour we made it to the crowded room where the carrousels are, to collect our suitcases. A came from Bucharest, via Brussels, I flew directly from Brussels.
I spot my huge red case almost immediately …. Unfortunately, A’s suitcase was nowhere to be found. We ransacked the whole large room, scrutinizing all cases that looked remotely similar … Nothing. We jumped on a taxi and, a little while later, were dropped off in front of our hotel. The hotel is impressive. Very spacious, we need to do a lot of walking to get to our wing … called Zidane. Luckily I happened to carry two completely new toothbrushes so I happily parted with one …. :). Not much else I could help A with, though. To make a long story short, the case arrived two days later, actually this evening, with a subsequent flight from Brussels. But we had to go shopping for clothes and basic cosmetics in the meantime … Which is not that bad, after all … The clothes bought are nice and heartily approved of by me :)
We have been in Marrakech for two days. It is an amazing city. Yesterday we took a hop-on hop off sightseeing bus and made a tour of the more modern part of the city. We saw some rich residential areas, impressive palm tree gardens, lots of camels under palm trees. Pleasant temperature, approximately 20 degrees, sunny and blue skies. Windy, though, on top of the bus where we were sitting. The day finished with a pleasant dinner in a fancy café and a very nice Irish coffee, perfectly prepared this time :) . After dinner, we paid a long visit to a boutique to buy shirts, sweatshirts, t-shirts, socks, underwear, etc.
Today we walked for hours in Medina (old town). Incredible. I am thrilled by what I have seen. Very narrow, crowded and dusty streets, people swarming everywhere, lots of beggars, lots of people trying to sell things or offering their services as false guides. Lots of cats everywhere, which delighted me. I succeeded to pet some. Lots of people on motorbikes. People carrying sheep on motorbikes and in other improvised vehicles. Terribly skinny and ill looking mules and horses pulling shabby carriages. Mosques beautifully coloured, stretching against the blue skies. People are poor but generally well disposed towards tourists. Inquisitive, often indecent looks from men. We visited many places, mostly mosques (Sidi Bel Abbes – 16th century, Koubba Almoravida – with a 900 years old washing complex and slightly newer mosque, Kasba – mosque with tombs of some 16th century kings) but also a religious school built in the 16th century (Madrasa Ben Youssef), famous Jemaa El Fna square (Richard, is this the square you were talking about?), Bahia palace (19th century) and a typical Arabian house (19th century as well). We were tricked into visiting a tannery – this is a place run by several families together, where animal skins are impregnated with various substances, worked on and turned into bags and other leather items. The place looked like an immense garbage hole and the stench was unbearable. Relieved to be out of there a few minutes later.
The town is heavily polluted, motorbikes are everywhere, old cars as well. The air is heavy with mixed smells – food, smoke, spices. After walking for hours in the old town, in the suks (the markets, where people sell absolutely everything), we get tired and hungry. We end up in a place and have a light dinner and then head for the hotel. We need an early night, tomorrow we’ll drive up to Casablanca. I have lots of beautiful pictures but they will have to wait to be downloaded … I have the wrong laptop with me on this trip :).
The night life starts. The girl with the strawberry blond hair goes to bed. A thousand smells in her hair.
