Day 2: MARRAKECH
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Today we woke up a little later than usual when we are on vacation. At the end last night we set the alarm at 7.30 in the morning and this is for us to take advantage of the bed when we are traveling. But with all things what to see in Marrakech that remain pending, it is going to be that we should have risen before.
We have gone down to breakfast at 8.30 to the food room of Riad Assalam and we have found a very complete breakfast and very cozy spaces.
No doubt the choice of Riad Assalam accommodation in our trip to Morocco It has been very good !! We had high expectations in the riad and it has not let us down.
Riad Assalam, our riad in Marrakech
We have breakfast crepes with jam, Moroccan bread with butter and a croisant, all this washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee ... if we can not ask for more!
We see that there are 10 minutes to 9 and we decide that it is time to get underway to discover the city.
A good option to have a good first contact with the city is to book this free tour of Marrakech Free! or a private tour in which you choose the itinerary, both with a guide in Spanish.
More practical information to prepare your trip to Marrakech
- 50 things to see and do in Marrakech
- The 5 best tours and excursions in Marrakech
- The best desert excursion from Marrakech
- 10 essential places to visit in Marrakech
- 10 essential places to see in Morocco
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Marrakech
- 10 essential tips for traveling to Morocco
- The best free tours in Marrakech for free
At five minutes to 9 we were in front of the Badi Palace, which we have right next to the Riad and seeing that it was still closed and eager to start the day of visits, we have decided to go to the Saadies Tombs of Marrakech, our first option What to see in Marrakech.
In the end, without finding the right way to get there, we had to ask several times, why we were unable to locate them on the map.
We have just arrived, but we begin to intuit that it will not be easy to orient ourselves with the plans we have ...
In the end, after several indications we have arrived and after paying 10 dirhams per person and crossing a very narrow street, we have found an incredible outdoor space.
Of the things that we have read about this visit, one of the ones that has caught our attention the most is that the Saadies tombs of Marrakech They were not discovered until 1920.
Not at all we thought we would find something like that, it is surprising us.
Entrance to the Saadies Tombs
Saadies Tombs
We have been there almost an hour, trying to take advantage of the good light to take pictures.
Saadies tombs. Things to see in Marrakech
Passing heat in the Saadies Tombs
Saadies Tombs
After this we have left, almost unwittingly to the Bab Agnaou door, which they say is the most beautiful gate in the city and the truth is that after seeing it, we can say that it is true.
Bab Agnaou Gate
Before arriving we go through some of the streets of the city that never cease to surprise us because of the atmosphere they give off ...
Marrakech details
Marrakech streets
The whole route to get here has been through narrow streets of Marrakech full of charm, without guiding us for anything and determined to let ourselves be carried away by the intuition of the road.
In the end we have learned that here it is better to get carried away and so in the end you end up discovering real corners ...
Marrakech streets
Details of the streets of Marrakech
It's a little after 11 in the morning and we decided to go to the Koutoubia Mosque and its surroundings.
Here we have gone straight, more than anything because we had the minaret as a reference and it was difficult to get lost, if I don't already tell you that it would not have been so easy !!
In this area we have been walking around the gardens for almost an hour ... The Koutoubia Mosque from the outside is impressive, but what really catches our attention is that in this area of the city, the hustle seems to exist. Here calm seizes the street ...
Arriving at the Koutoubia Mosque.Things to see in Marrakech
Koutoubia Mosque
Koutoubia Mosque
After sitting for a while to rest we have got back on track until we have arrived at La Mamounia, the most famous hotel in Marrakesh.
La Mamoudia Hotel.Things to see in Marrakech
From the outside the truth is that it looks very good ... we will not deny it! It wouldn't be bad to spend a couple of days here.
Seeing that it is after 12 in the morning and the idea is to eat at the Jemaa el Fna Square, we decided that we will go down the area of the souks of Marrakech and thus be able to see the environment a little.
And here it is impossible to explain in words what we have found.
We have been to several souks, some of them very famous: the one in Istanbul in Turkey, Khan el Khalili in Cairo ... and they have no comparison with this at all.
Marrakech souk
Souk
Lights in the Souk.Things to see in Marrakech
It is incredible the amount of shops and streets that you can find. Here you cannot be guided by anything, it is best to follow people and at some point follow intuition.
In the end we ended up buying some fanous (lanterns) that we wanted and that we have been unable to take away.
First purchase in the Souk
Almost without realizing it, taking lots of photos (whenever we could) we have reached the square and before lunch we stopped at Café Glacien in Jmaa el Fna Square to have a mint tea. It is impossible to put aside that great tea.
Mint tea at Café Glacien in Jmaa el Fna Square
From there we have already seen that the atmosphere of the square has totally changed to how it was last night. It has nothing to do with it. It seems unbelievable how the same site can change so much over the hours.
Acrobats in Jamaa el Fna Square
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- Camel ride through the palm grove
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Orange stand at Jamaa el Fna Square in Marrakech
Jamaa el Fna Square
Before eating we went for a walk, meeting with monkeys, snake charmers ... all this we had heard and read, but until we have seen it ... we could not imagine it as it really is.
Snakes in Jamaa el Fna Square
After closing our mouths before so many new things, we have gone to Rue Rue Riad Zoutoun, where we have changed some money and we have met all the atmosphere of the world gathered in a single street. In the end we are so charming that we will not eat!
Rue Riad Zoutoun
Now the stomach is beginning to say that it can not stand, so we have gone to eat on the terrace of one of the restaurants in the square, Les Prémices.
Views from one of the restaurants in Jamaa el Fna Square
Contrast that we see from one of the restaurants in Jamaa el Fna Square
There we have eaten a royal couscous, a lemon chicken tagine, plus a lemonade and a coke and for dessert a plate of typical cakes, all for 163 dirhams.
Lemon Chicken Tagine
On this trip we are saving a lot on food !! 🙂
Jamaa el Fna Square.Things to see in Marrakech
After resting for a while, we were going to the tanner's souk when touring the interior of the souks, where we have been lost for a long time, stunned by the things we were seeing ... we have met up front with the Marrakech Museum.
Stores of Jamaa el Fna Square
Colors in the Souk
SoukThings to see in Marrakech
Lost in the souk of the Souk
Souk
Souk Details
So we have not doubted it and we have paid the 60 dirhams per person that includes the entrance to the museum, the Ben Yusuf Madrasa and Koubba Ba 'Adiyn.
The museum does not really have an interesting exhibition, but it is only worth entering through the building.
The central hall is impressive.
Marrakech Museum
Marrakech Museum
Marrakech Museum
There we have been sitting for a while, listening to the music they had in the background and admiring the architecture. It is one of those places where we would have stayed for hours, just listening and feeling the atmosphere.
After this visit we have gone straight to the Madraza, which is leaving the museum on the right hand side, just follow the same street and you will find it on your side. It seems more messy than it really is !! Hahaha
If we liked the Museum, what can we say about Madrasa. The architecture is exquisite.
We have remained with our mouths open watching the reliefs, the central patio ... the rooms ...
Photographs in the Madrasa Ben Youssef.Things to see in Marrakech
Details of the Ben Youssef Madrasa
Madrasa Ben Youssef
Window of the Madrasa Ben Youssef
At the moment, of everything we are seeing, there is nothing we did not like.
After this, to take advantage of the “triple entrance”, we have returned to the museum and we have gone to the Koubba Ba 'Adyin, which is right in front.
Koubba Ba 'Adyin
There we have been little more than 15 minutes, since the truth is that there is not much to see and it is quite hot.
We have seen that it is not too late and we have made our way to the tanner's souk.
After several laps in the streets and going through several times, half lost, we have found the souk.
Details
But there we have seen that they were trying to teach us tanneries with guides and it is not what we were looking for, so we see some from outside and take the opportunity to continue and reach another of the doors of the medina: The Bab Debbagh door. We have not been able to climb to the top of the wall, because the door leading to the stairs is closed, but from there we have discovered the other Marrakesh, the one on the outskirts of the Medina.
Arriving at the Bab Debbagh door
We have gone around there and we have begun to notice the tiredness, so we have marched towards the square, to have a drink in that area.
Back to the square
This section is the one that has taken us the longest, since until we reach the area of the souks, we have lost several times, some of us to be embarrassed by the things we are seeing and others by disorientation.
Once in the area of Marrakech souks, we have immediately hit the road until we reach the square.
Now the streets that used to be almost full of people, at this moment are already complete and there is not even a pin!
Souk colors
Touring the Souk
We finally arrive at the square and all we want is to stop for a drink, so we sit on one of the terraces at street level and have a couple of soft drinks for 20 dirhams.
The idea was to have dinner here tonight, but we looked at the clock and it is 6.30 in the afternoon, it is still early and we are busted, so we decided to go to the Riad to rest for a while before dinner.
And we took advantage of the fact that we passed through a street where we have seen some paintings that we loved ... and look where, at this time, we already have them in the suitcase! Hahaha
Back to the riad
After resting for a while in the Riad, we see that it is a little less than 9 at night, so we decided to return to the Plaza for dinner.
We had in mind to eat in the stalls of the square, but in the end we go to the terrace of the Terrasses de L 'Alhambra, where we dined some pizzas and some soda for about 220 dirhams.
The truth is that it has been more expensive than the other places where we have gone so far, but in honor of the truth, it must be said that the pizzas were delicious. And as always on our getaways or longer trips, occasionally, we end up in some Italian.
Before returning to Riad Assalam to rest, we have walked around the Plaza to lower the food a bit and above all soak up the atmosphere that is breathed when night falls.
And with a mixture of colors, sensations and colors we have gone to rest, which today has been an exhausting day, but full of good vibrations in Marrakech
