Marrakech, Morocco

20 June 2019

Marrakech was the final stop on my four month trip through Europe (which ended in Africa, obviously).

I arrived by train from Casablanca. In contrast to Casablanca, which is a huge and insanely busy city, Marrakech is smaller and a bit more calm. Except for the medina, where you could be sharing a narrow ‘street’ with any number of mopeds, donkey-pulled carts, and motorcycles, not to mention the locals and tourists and street vendors.

When we arrived we initially went to the wrong riad, going so far as to checking in before we realized our mistake. We got hassled by some kids for a couple of dirham - they claimed they helped us find our way there (a common situation you’d be warned about before going to Marrakech).

The rainy, chilly weather was left behind in Spain and I was welcomed with sunny skies and temps in the 70s. I had a good few days, and was completely in a different world living and adventuring around the medina. Somehow I deleted some pictures from one of the days I was there, but this is still a good set.

Rooftop Medina View

26 November 2018
Rooftop Medina View

This was taken from the rooftop of the riad where we stayed.

Medina

26 November 2018
Medina

Taken from the top of the riad where we stayed.

Inside

26 November 2018
Inside

A riad next to ours was being worked on. They are all open from the top, so at least some are made from terracotta which absorbs some of the water that will inevitably make its way inside.

Satellites

26 November 2018
Satellites

Daily prayers were sang from towers such as this all throughout the medina.

Medina

26 November 2018
Medina

Green

26 November 2018
Green

Orange

26 November 2018
Orange

Steps

26 November 2018
Steps

Taken at Le Jardin Secret.

Le Jardin Secret

26 November 2018
Le Jardin Secret

Stairs

26 November 2018
Stairs

Turtles

26 November 2018
Turtles

Taken at Le Jardin Secret.

Pavillon

26 November 2018
Pavillon

Taken at Le Jardin Secret.

Lunch

27 November 2018
Lunch

Lunch View

27 November 2018
Lunch View

I don’t remember the name of this restaurant, but it was in the medina up on a second level overlooking street vendors near Jemaa el-Fna.

Vendors

27 November 2018
Vendors

Atlas Mountains

27 November 2018
Atlas Mountains

Taken from the rooftop of the riad where we stayed.

Me

27 November 2018
Me

(Out of) Focus

27 November 2018
(Out of) Focus

Dinner View

27 November 2018
Dinner View

This is a terribly grainy smartphone picture but this is what the medina looks like at night.

Saying Goodbye

29 November 2018
Saying Goodbye

Nicole and I traveled together for the 4 months we were in Europe. When I left Morocco to head back to the states, she went on to Egypt and South Africa. This was taken as I left the medina to get a taxi to the train station.

Gare de Marrakech

29 November 2018
Gare de Marrakech

I got on a train going to Cassablanca, then the next morning boarded a flight back to the US.

Train Tracks

29 November 2018
Train Tracks

I was on the last train car so I took this out of the back window.