Spices – for sale everywhere!
The peaceful terrace of a Marrakesh riad
Rugs are everywhere – and hugely popular as souvenirs
The green oasis of the Marjorelle Gardens
How to describe Marrakesh?
Noisy, for sure. “Colourful” doesn’t begin to do it justice. Chaotic, yes. Also crowded, fragrant, smelly, fascinating, dusty, delicious, photogenic, hospitable, inexpensive, gracious, scenic, and overwhelming.
On a recent visit, it became clear that Marrakesh is perfect for the client looking for adventure-lite. While there are luxury European hotels, there are also small locally-owned hotels and “riads” – homes with central courtyards which have been converted to inns. Cuisine is as exotic as you wish, though no visit to the country would be complete without sampling a tajine – a delicious stew prepared in a teepee-shaped pot.
Other must-dos include a visit to Djemaa el Fna, the famous central square. Part market, part street festival, part open air restaurant, this vast square is framed by the city’s famous souks, or market stalls. The square is lively night and day and is guaranteed to put you on sensory overload. (Sounds vary from snake charmers’ squealing music to….Justin Bieber.)
What a great place to hone your bargaining skills. Good buys include spices, leather goods, jewellery, pottery, and oils – including famous and uniquely Moroccan argan oil, guaranteed to help with anything from thinning hair to heart palpitations. And of course rugs, with many merchants willing to ship larger pieces home for you.
While Marrakesh is a great city for walking, the traffic can be a bit overwhelming. At any given road crossing you may be dealing with horse-drawn carriages, touring buses, cyclists, mopeds and the legion of “petit taxis”, small beige cars of indeterminate age. Hailing a petit taxi is easy, but you have to remember to negotiate the fare before you get in – local cabbies seem to believe using the meter is a sign of weakness – and be prepared to come up with your own price. “How much are you willing to pay?” is a question we Canadians aren’t used to from cabbies!
When it all becomes too much, escape to the Majorelle Gardens, a calm and cooling oasis. Established by French designer Yves St. Laurent, the gardens are just 20 minutes from Djemaa el Fna and a great place to clear your head before you plunge back into the charming chaos that is Marrakesh.
