Marrakesh was the first country that I visited in Africa and is the reason I've been back several times since. It's a city full of colour, beauty and chaos and is well worth visiting.
It is one of four former imperial cities in Morocco, where Arabic and Berber are the official languages, however it is not uncommon to hear French either.
My first cultural shock in Morocco was the road crossings - or lack thereof. Despite having clearly marked zebra crossings, motorbikes and cars refused to stop, instead swerving around pedestrians as they stepped out into oncoming traffic. This was very strange to me but seemed to work and was good preparation for Vietnam.
Although we were only in Marrakesh for a couple of days, there was plenty to do and see. If you are in a rush, hop-on-hop-off buses are a great way to explore all of the major landmarks in a city and we did in fact do a couple of bus tours whilst in Marrakesh, however I'd definitely recommend visiting for up to a week as there was so much more that I wanted to explore.
Koutoubia Mosque
One of the most famous landmarks of Marrakesh is the Koutoubia Mosque, which can be seen for miles. It is a stunning colour and beautiful to look at, however non-muslims are not allowed into the prayer hall and as a non-muslim, I couldn't see the inside. Nonetheless, prayer calls can be heard during the day throughout the city and Islam is ingrained into Moroccan culture.
Jemaa El Fnaa
This is a large square located at the entry to the Medina, which is essentially an old city enclosed by walls and gates. There is a lot going on in this square and it is often very crowded with locals and tourists alike, offering a glimpse of Moroccan life.
We had Moroccan mint tea in this square, to which there is an etiquette to follow; the tea is served three times and each serving represents something different (although all three should be drunk), as described in this proverb: 'The first glass is as gentle as life, the second is as strong as love, the third is as bitter as death'. This is because the flavour of the tea changes over time depending on how long the tea has been steeping. I really enjoyed the experience, and would recommend.
Marrakesh Souk
The Marrakesh Souk was the first souk I'd ever been to and was definitely a shock to the senses; there were the rich smells of the spices, the colourful arrays of artwork, and the bustle of crowds haggling with sellers and searching for goods to take home.
A souk is essentially a street market and they are common in Northern Africa and the Middle East (i.e. Arabic-speaking countries) and are a big part of Moroccan culture and are definitely worth visiting as there's nothing else quite like it.
Majorelle Gardens
Designed by the French Artist, Jacques Majorelle, these gardens were home to fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner (they bought it after finding out that there were plans to convert the land into a hotel). These gardens feature various plants, including many cacti and the bright blue of the building is has been named 'Majorelle blue'. Although there isn't a great deal to see here, it's a unique place to visit featuring a small collection of Islamic art.
Palm Grove
Palm Grove is north of Marrakesh and consists of over 100,000 palm trees. Here you can ride camels (although be aware that they are much higher up than you'd think!), however I'd probably recommend going on an excursion to the desert, where you can sleep under the stars, ride camels and sandboard over a couple of days.
El Badi & Bahia Palaces
Marrakesh features various palaces, including El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace. El Badi translates to 'the incomparable' and was built for a Sultan in the 1570s and funded by the Portuguese. Although most of the beauty has since been stripped, it is worth visiting the ruins. On the contrary, the Bahia Palace translates to 'the beautiful' and was built in the 1860s and is embellished from floor to ceiling. The grand courtyard is the highlight of the palace, however there is a lot to admire throughout.
Marrakesh is one my favourite cities that I've visited and offers a variety of activities and an abundance of culture. Aside from the aforementioned landmarks, there are various other tombs and mosques to see and opportunities to camp under the stars. The Atlas Mountains (named after the Titan Atlas in Greek mythology) provide a stunning backdrop and the food (and coffee) is very nice. For those looking to start venturing out of Europe, Marrakesh is a great place to start!
To read more about my trips in 2018, read my 2018 Travel Round-up here.
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