Marrakesh 1
“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
-Buddha
Day 9 – Thursday, January 18, 2024
This was our first full day in Marrakesh, and also our last day together with Abdul and the entire group. Even though we still had Friday in Marrakesh, it was a “free day” with no formal guided tour or group activities.
We started our day with the bus driving us from our hotel to Koutoubia, the large 12th-century Almohad-style mosque you saw during our nighttime tour of Jemâa el-Fna Square in the last post.
We took group photos in front of the mosque and then walked to Jemâa el-Fna Square, where we used the ATM, got a cappuccino…oh, and played with a live cobra.
From the Square, Adbul guided us through the maze of cobblestoned lanes in the medina, with covered spice and textile souks and hammam bath houses.
We ultimately arrived at Herboristerie Bab Agnaou (Ircos Cosmetics), where the group had a field day ordering argon oil, prickly pear seed oil, and other herbs. Amanda may not have liked much of this trip, but she would have loved this shop. Not to worry, I brought her home plenty of goodies.
After spending all our money on prickly pear seed oil, we walked to Marjana Terrasse Restaurant, where we enjoyed lunch on the rooftop terrace overlooking Koutoubia mosque. It was a warm day with a gentle breeze, making for an idyllic setting.
Afterward, several of the women in the group had henna patterns dyed on their hands. The afternoon became warm, so everyone opted to go back to the hotel and hang out in the courtyard by the pool. There we enjoyed our final large group dinner at the hotel and gave Abdul a parting gift for being such an amazing tour guide.
A dozen of us decided to walk to the nearby Sky Bar on Rue Yougoslavie, for a nightcap and exceptional views over the Marrakesh night skyline. It was a fitting end to a wonderful week spent with people, many of whom we now consider friends.
Fountain in front of Koutoubia Mosque.
Scott, Sam, Claire, Andy, Tina, me, Natasha, Cayla, Carey, Abdul, Dave, May, Scott, Jane, clay, Joe, Tim, Andy, Fanny, and Joe.
Kitty near the ATM.
Kitty at the door.
Abdul orders us cappuccinos in Jemâa el-Fna Square.
In many ways, Jemâa el-Fna Square is far more tame during daytime hours than at night. In other ways, however, it is less so.
Inside the medina.
The Grand Riad inside Bahia Palace.
Bahia Palace is a mid to late 19th-century palace in Marrakesh.
Gorgeous tile work
Caution
Local transportation crossing
Local color
They finally sucked me in with the pure Moroccan argon and prickly pear seed oils!
I may be a sucker, but I was most certainly not the only one!
Lunch on the rooftop at Marjana Terrasse Restaurant with the Koutoubia Mosque in the background. (Abdul, Natasha, me, Joe, Carey, Dave, & Cayla)
Yummy vegetable cous cous.
Camel burger
Thought I was kidding? Check out the bottom right.
They served a variety of Pastelillos throughout our travels. They were always a phyllo dough stuffed with meat or cheese. Apparently they make vegetable pastelillos, but I never saw it on a menu or I certainly would have tried one. Everyone who ordered them seemed to enjoy them.
Back inside the Marrakesh medina.
The Moroccan flag inside the medina.
Natasha, Cayla, and Carey with their henna done in Jemâa el-Fna Square.
Walking back to our bus.
The view over the rooftop pool at Sky Bar.
Andy, Carey, Claire, Jane, Clay, Scott, Tim, Andy, Natasha, Dave, & Cayla all waiting for our drinks.
Morocco produces its own wine, and it’s cheap—so a lot of these bottles were drank by the group. What varietal is it you may ask? Well, the label reads, “Vin Rouge du Maroc” which is French for “red wine from Morocco,” so you know it’s a red, but that’s about it. But it’s a “Reserve,” so you just know it’s good! 😂
