The dry heat is stifling. At mid-day, the temperature reaches just past 100°F, and at 9:30pm, it will remain in the 90’s. Many establishments in the Medina (”Old City”) are not air-conditioned, and if they are, the cooling machines are weak. I heeded warnings to wear long-sleeved, ankle-covered clothing because of strict Muslim customs, […]
People say there are only two things to do in Marrakech: bargain and shop. We venture into the souks today. In Jemaa el Fna, there are two main avenues on the northern side of the square that lead into the souks—individual market stalls, all interconnected in a labyrinthine scheme designed to get you impossibly lost. […]
Today, we return to the souks to hunt for a runner. I have a specific look in mind, a carpet made of vegetable-dyed silk. We pass through four or five different carpet stalls and just as we are about to give up, we stop at an emporium owned by a gregarious Muslim (aren’t they all?). Several young workers run back and forth […]
A day-to-evening trip into Gueliz, the “New City,” exposes us to a modern Moroccan lifestyle. Here I see teenagers in lycra tanks, tight jeans, and miniskirts. I’m on the prowl for some silver jewelry made by Berber villagers. We find the antique store on a busy strip and after some haggling (yes, even in the “New City,”), Peter […]