From Ben Youssef Madrasa we start exploring the medina, or the old town, making our way slowly towards Jemaa el-Fnaa and then to the more modern town behind it. We are getting used by this point to the chaos on the streets but it is still remarkable to experience.
We also try to stop to see the wares at a few shops but as soon as you show some interest everyone is jumping on you so it is no fun really. Also the goods are overpriced and you need to haggle like crazy which I guess would be part of the Morocco experience, still that doesn’t mean it is fun.
Some areas in the old town are more crazy than others but we can always take a detour or a breather to enjoy the beautiful carpets or other knick knacks on the way.
Not all areas are all that touristy, we pass schools and shops that are used by the locals so we also get a glimpse of the lives the Moroccan people live day to day.
Besides walking the preferred mode of transportation in the medina is by donkey cart and motorcycle. There are also cars but they are difficult to maneuver so a thumbs up to our driver the previous day.
We pass again Jemaa el-Fnaa, this time during the day and the many donkey drawn carts waiting for tourists to go in the direction we are coming from.
The first stop is the Ensemble Artisanal, a shopping complex geared towards tourists. It is also a good respite from the medina, things are a lot less hectic here and you can catch your breath again.
WE spend some time exploring the shops and buying a few souvenirs. While a bit more pricey, maybe, than in the medina there is no haggling here so at least you know the price upfront.
We then spend some time just following the walls of the old town, quite impressive that they are still so well preserved in a town that is bursting at the seams.
As we explore we find a restaurant that seems just a great fit to what we want to eat, some traditional Moroccan food, and there are no tricks this time and the food is quite good.
We then walk past the Theatre Royal, and also find our first Moroccan geocache. Priorities, priorities….
We then start returning to our accomodation passing by the impressive Koutoubia mosque, we try to enter it but we are unable at this time so we just watch it from the outside. And then it is back to the Riad for the evening as tomorrow we have another full day in Marrakesh planned.
