Mysterious Marrakech

December 18, 2018

About 6:15ish I woke up early, hearing the beautiful call to prayer over the loud speaker from the mosque. It travels throughout the city.  It sounds just like chanting to me.   That was what I was most looking forward to in Marrakech - the sound of prayer filling the air early in the morning as you daze in and out of sleep. But I couldn't daze.   I was so excited that I went up to the rooftop of the riad to listen and watch the sunrise.

Breakfast in the riad was amazing.  We had fresh baked bread, crepes with preserves, a chocolate cake that I could eat at every meal and local yogurt. Finished it off with their wonderful tea.

Hudson mentioned we need to be sure to pack all of his homework in a bag and loosely carry it in hopes that someone will steel it. :-)

We have the most wonderful host here at the riad.  His name is Karim.  He grew up in the Sahara, came from nothing and helps his family.  You can tell that every conversation, move and warm feeling comes from his heart.  He is really committed to making sure we have an amazing time.

He helps us in every way possible.  He spent at least 45 minutes talking us through the town.  He went with Andy to get a sim card, even loaned him the money since we hadn't hit an ATM yet.

There is a fresh poultry store right near our riad.  The chickens are alive and then when you order something, you point, they whack and you are on your way. Just about as fresh as they can be.

Off for the days adventures.  The weather is perfect, low 70s.  On our walk to  the La Koutoubia Mosque the boys stoped and got fresh squeezed pomegranates juice from a street vendor.

They must have used about 3 or 4  pomegranates to make it. 

   The mosque was not nearly as impressive as the ones in Oman.  Then off for Place Jemaa El Fna.  At the entry to the souk Andy mentioned he felt like he was walking into a scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark with monkeys, cobras and snake charmers.

You can be lost for hours in all of the alleys selling anything and everything including TEETH! Yep, teeth.  We aren't sure he sells them but he does pull them out for you right there on the spot with what looked like a nasty pair of pliers. 

There were also some dentures so I think you can pick the teeth out that you want to have put in your new dentures.  He basically cut out the supplier - he pulls them out and then reuse them to make dentures.  The kids got a first class education in negotiations.  Prices are typically 3 to 4 times higher than you would buy at.  Most of the negotiations were pleasant and fun.  However, one guy got really aggressive over a bracelet.  He started at $80 and we walked away at $10.  To make the sale he went as far as putting the bracelet on me and holding my wrist.  I couldn't get it off, wouldn't let go of my hand and became almost hostile.  Andy was finally able to remove the bracelet and then he wouldn't take it back, accusing us of bad business.  We finally extracted ourselves from his unpleasantness and bought a nicer bracelet from a likable guy for the same price. We did more looking than buying and even so left with a few treasures.  Some of the more whacky things we saw included, turtles, lizards, chameleons and cow & goat hooves.  There were also more traditional things that were displayed  beautifully like  olives, fruits and seafood. I was intimidated taking pictures here.  I was worried the phone would be stolen and the fact that the don't seem as open here to have their picture taken.

Lunch was excellent with chicken and lemon tangine, Moroccan soup and some other local dishes.

Took a late afternoon break on our riad's rooftop patio.  Lounging here now, typing this up.  The sun has set.  It is a warm evening and  the praying has begun again.  Yep, pinching myself again because it is another surreal moment on this trip.  Karim came up for a visit.  He explained that the riad (house that used to be owned by a wealthy family) is over 150 years old.  There are six bedrooms.  One for the parents and one for the kids to share.  As the kids married they would move into their own room with their spouse.

Went through the winding streets looking for our restaurant.  There was a guy in a long white dress with a red fez hat who offered to show us where to go. 

He took us down a long dark corridor, and then another and another.  At this point I'm thinking - we are so getting robbed.  Then he walks up to a door and rings the bell.  A woman answers and invites us in.  We walk into a stunning, 400 year old house with 45 foot ceilings. 

Pictures can't possibly do it justice but have to include one still.  Pure magic in Marakech!