Whirlwind Marrakech

Today we toured all of the important historical highlights of this imperial city as well as a more modern palace- 1600's I think; and a few sets of gardens.  I would remember more, but we followed it up with a couple of hours lost in the grand souk.  (Totally what Greg wanted to do in Marrakech!). We emerged triumphant at the end of our wandering with a few purchases, our wallets still in hand if not completely intact.  We have been training for this  whole trip... No problems really at all, but enough was enough by the end.  Though the market is huge and brimming with stuff, it is a lot of the same merchandise in many of the shops.  The throngs of people, aggressive merchants and the knowledge that this is one of the worst places in the world for theft and dishonest dealings does leave you exhausted after a few hours.  That is why everything I learned early in the day has fallen out of my head.  Because we struck out on our own, there was much less photography today... Too busy keeping wallets and purses protected.  Here are a few for you though:

Jardin majorelle

Tummy trouble still haunts us all. But we endure!

This is how the cool kids dress.  Abdul can pull it off very naturally.  Greg began "shvitzing like an old Jewish man" as soon as he put it on.

We liked this sign.well dressed men and veiled women only? 

Just to document the fact that Greg was on the trip

Storks on the palace wall.

Cat of the day

We actually bought some spices, but not here.  Smelled good though!

Weird stuff for sale in this section of the market. Herbal (and other) remedies.  They also sold turtles and lizards and snake skins!

We have a nice dinner planned for tonight at a neighboring Riad, and we are off to Casablanca in the morning to get ready for our flight home.

Until later!

Greg & Ruth