Marrakech

We arrived in Marrakech, by climbing up the High Atlas mountains and winding down over the other side. The earth is a very rusty red and the buildings take on the same color, blending intothe background. The land is dry,awesomely dry, cropping is limited, occasionally there is a dribble of water in a river bed and in the plains alongside there is an oasis providing vegetation and shade. The "river" then becomes the hub of the village, used for washing clothes, bathing and a watering-hole, for whatever livestock is around.

We spent some time at a village, on the side of a steep rocky hill. The villagers had decided to re-locate on the other side of the river and during the period of transition they would build their new home, while still living in the soon to be vacated one. Everyone banded together...a real community effort. It is here that the outside stadium scenes for Gladiator were shot!

Start of climb to new village

UNESCO has since provided the funds for the old village to be restored..and now people are slowly trickling back. The restoration provides work and income for the locals, boosting a flagging economy, tourist trade providing the major source of revenue. The work to rebuild is slow - gradient is steep, the tools are basic and it's relentlessly hot, with minimal shade.

Giant pestle and mortars Part of old village
View from old village

I found Marrakech a much harder city compared to Fez...Lonely Planet regarded it very highly as a must-see city, particularly the square, I think it's overrated. It is much more cosmopolitan, a very strong European influence though the inner Medina is very much Moroccan. The city is expanding rapidly through foreign investments, the consequence being lots of new modern resorts, new suburbs and shopping malls...we lucky enough to stay in a beautiful Riad in the Medina, a short ten minutes from the souks (markets). The square is the entertainment area- snake charmers, acrobats, local musicians jamming, donkey carts going every-which way,peddlers,beggars, monkeys..it comes alive at dusk and is in full swing by 8pm...it's very much a carnival-like atmosphere.

Market Square and Mayhem!!!

In it's favor..the expression "shop until you drop" was coined (a pretty good Boutcherism I think!) for just for Marrakech...we bought up big time here, lots of little gifts for family and a lovely carpet-bag for me :)