MARRAKECH

Stephan had a conference in Marrakech and I joined him later.  A wonderful experience in a beautiful country and culture.

We had a great guide who showed us all one one wishes to see in a new exotic place. He and I, we walked street by street around old town [Medina] and we took a side trip once Stephan was available to a Berber village in the mountains.

Marrakech is also known for its ancient city wall and various arches all through the city.  Here are some observations .

An amazing work of craftsmanship and artistry it was built early in the 20th century ..  Today it is being used as a museum for its architecture and various temporary exhibitions.

The cedar wood walls and ceilings, Gypsum based white plaster and the delicate mosaic tiling [zellij] is the decorative style of the courtyard of the palace. And an incredibly delicate ceiling [both below]

Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubia Mosque from Jamee El Fna

MEDINA [the old town] & THE SOUKS [different areas in the old town, specialized in different trades]

Jemaa el Fna  - with its various entertainments that include snake charmers [they requested payment for the privilege of taking pictures]; ladies doing henna on tourists' hands; and old fashioned water sellers.

Souks 

Various streets in the Medina

The oldest Jewish Synagogue originally built in 1492   &   High tech building support

A Hamam "Bain d'Or"  &  Medersa Ben Youssef [which unfortunately was under renovation and we couldn't visit]

Menara Garden 

We also visited the Jardin Majorelle [Majorelle Garden] and the Yves Saint Laurent house and museum.

Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé purchased the dilapidated Majorelle Garden created by the French Orientalist artist, Jacques Majorelle.  They restored it and bought more land and built a house for themselves.

Today it is one of the most visited areas of town.  It holds a museum of YSL's haute couture and is really a beautiful place to visit.

THE GARDEN

THE HOUSE

Trip to the Atlas Mountains and a visit to a Berber House for tea

On our way we passed many craftsmen shops, and saw how Moroccan women are more liberated than many of their Muslim sisters. Here is a Olive Oil coop run by women.  

IMLIL

Our host met us in town and we walked up to his house in the hills  and then back down another path to meet our guide.

Tea at the house

View from the terrace [below]

On our way back down to village

On the way back we had lunch in Asni which was holding its weekly market.  We had a Tajine that we shared with our driver and realized that meat was not really kept under hygienic conditions in the butcher next door.        But..Hey ----- we had no problems!

Two of our best dinners in Marrakech:  La Maison Arabe [left]  &  Al Fassia [right] 

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