Marrakech Express

Being an extremely dutiful husband, and it being a year to the day that we actually got married (blimey time flies and all that) I thought it only fitting to whisk the little lady of somewhere suitably glamourous. We plumped for Marrakech for a couple of reasons, one - never been there before, and two - we wanted a 'not beach holiday'.

The place is completely mad, people, mopeds and donkeys everywhere and you run the risk of getting run over about every 10 seconds.

It's a great place to get lost in, we managed it about twice every day, but because the Medina is relatively small, it's hard to stay lost for long. Plus, there are always little kids around ready to relieve you of ice-cream money in return for taking you back to where you thought you were.

We discovered that Ray is good at haggling*, and the guys in the souk will let you walk for about 20 metres before chasing you down to accept the last price you offered, no matter how low it is.

One of the funniest things I heard was a stallholder offering me 'T-shirts - very cheap - ASDA price...' showing that advertising definitely works. He didn't turn around and pat his back pocket though, which is good, because otherwise I would have laughed.

Anyway - We took a lot of pictures:




spacmonster's Marrakech photoset

Would recommend a visit to anyone that doesn't mind a bit of craziness. Particularly because you can escape it all by lounging in a Riad, or, spending a few hours at the Bains de Marrakech (thanks for the tip off TW) being alternately buffed, pummelled, steamed and doused with cold water out of a bucket by brusque Moroccan women.

The Belly Dancers were good fun as well. Just a shame I didn't have any small notes with me at the time...

* I'm not, because I generally don't like buying things, so would have given up most times and left with nothing...