Ugh.

This being the end of the Marrakech shots, here's a treat picture of me looking my best after nearly four days of no showers, little sleep, constant travel and a good deal of sun. Kindly note the skeleton eye sockets and dazed expression. I love weekend breaks :)

P.S: This one is the face picture requirement as requested by some.

The Jemaa from above

The sides of the square are well supplied with multi-floor French style cafes with where you can snag ringside seats at a safe distance to the madness going on below under the cool awnings. Cafe du Glacier, where these were taken, was a favourite when the Getty's were in residence. The drinks are accordingly priced.

The Waterboy

I managed to get a sneaky shot of one of the Jemaa's watersellers whilst he was eating at the stall beside ours. They usually demand a 5 or 10 dirhams minimum picture taking fee(I do think they do quite well on unsuspecting tourists, being very persistent about getting their picture dues). They walk about with a goat hide water carrier, still furry with dangling hooves, and pour you a drink into one on the shiny brass cups hanging from their long waist chains for 5 dirhams, though I probably wouldn't recommend Moroccan tap water...

Jemaa El Fna Night Market

The heart of the city without a doubt. The Jemaa El Fna only really comes to life after dusk, when 100 nightly vendors set up for the evening eating market. A good deal of very healthy competition ensues having so many mini-restaurants so close, with every stall employed a few hustlers to get you to their stall, foreigners being prime, as they expect us to spend spend spend. They have two or three dedicated harira soup places, that specializes in the traditional garlic, tomato, and chickpea soup, served hot for 3 dirhams. For the adventurous, snail soup is offered by a few places by the juice sellers. We had some very very good salted grilled aubergine, a bizarre spinach dish, more flatbreads, and salade Maroccaine for about 2 dollars. The night market was pretty much one of my favourite parts of Marrakech.

The Avenues

The porters

On the north western side of the Jemaa, all the porters congregate with various carts, mopeds, and vans, chatting and sipping na-na until they're engaged for a delivery, kind of like the porter in Arabian Nights who's invited to dinenr with Sinbad the Sailor.

Cafe by the Koutoubia

Deadly sweet and delicious mint tea at this wicker chair cafe by the big mosque was well needed after a series of 35 degree afternoons. One fellow leaned his bicycle up against one the the palm planters to dash in for a minute espresso, but a quick eyed mustachioed waiter was there in a flash to remove the offending item to the iron railings. The man came out rather confusedly shouting a bit after his bike, but a heated Arabic exchange ending with a slap on the back and a quick cheek peck sent him happily on his way.

The last of the Marrakechi Express Weekend pictures to go up tomorrow at the latest...
Hope everyone likes these. Please leave your comments, that would be great, thanksss.

Les oranges

Fresh orange juice carts are plentiful in the Jemaa El Fna, with the diversifying sellers(called orangiers) also sometimes offering fresh pressed grapefruit and lime juice as well. It's 3 dirhams a glass (about a 10 cents) and you sip it slowly it standing in front of the cart. Fluffy coconut cookie sellers come around at night, selling a macaroon style thing for 2 dirhams, all very yummy.

Sweets!

A few of the stalls selling sweet sweet sweet Arabic pastries, usually filled with sesame, various ground nuts, and dates. I bought a lovely large bag of dates, only to arrive home, cut some open , and find some very live little bugs that made the trip to back to Europe with us. No dates for me.

Spcie Stalls

One of the very neat and tidy apothecary and spice shops, next to the aptly named Cafe des Epices.

A Shrine

The first picture is taken standing in the old underground cistern.

A Shrine

A Shrine

This used to be a shrine and attached cistern where you would wash hands and feet before prayers.

Marrakechi Carpets

One of the many carpets you'll definitely encounter. We found an ancient old man with a tiny stall in the souks called Abu Mohammed , and we haggled hard to procure two brightly coloured Berber rugs at a good price, and did quite well, only to leave the lovely things on the train back from Birmingham. Oh dear.

Musee de Marrakech

The two grey walled pictures are part of the bits of the old hammam(bath-house and steam room) that remains round the back of the building.

Musee de Marrakech

The Musee de Marrakech, right next door to the Medersa, is another of the city's converted palaces. The central court/hall has an enormous chandelier contraption and little alcoves with cushioned couches dotted around the sides.

The storks of Marrakech

Storks are a big deal in Morocco. Considered good luck, they even have a dedicated stork hospital that's been going for several hundred years. Most of today's modern storks have set up camp on the high walls of the Bahia Palace gardens.