Just off Marrakesh central square – Djemaa el-Fna – lies some of the most enticing souks in Morocco. The immense market is home to food vendors, storytellers, musicians, tattoo artists and snake charmers…and the list goes on.

Djemaa el-Fna

Fascinating, spell binding, alluring – and the list of adjectives could go on if we were to describe the Marrakesh Market – where the exotic world of snake charmers, musicians and riot of colors and cacophony of sounds bring the market alive and enticing enough to take a day out and revel in the magic of it.

Its ancient history revolves around desert caravans and pirates; its low red buildings are framed by the snow covered High Atlas mountains. The square around, which the city is centered is easily the most alluring of any African market.

It is so easy to get lost in the shrouded alleyways, which leads us into a darker, narrower lane that snakes into a twisty clutch of passageways, each nudging us in directions we can neither predict nor resist. But then, at the end these labyrinthine byways all funnel back to the main square – eventually.

Spices in Marrakesh

And in your journey through the sights, smell and sound of the souks…you chance upon its very soul which pulls you back into its fold. Enveloping you in its magic and transporting you into a world like none seen before.

Amid the dense souks, you’ll find objects to sate every sense. Monkey trainers, snake charmers, henna artists, carpets for the feet, candies for the tongue and scores of potent spices for the nose, people standing over huge boiling cauldrons dyeing wool whilst their neighbours measure out spices on old lead scales. Music acting as a layer to the souk…and over cups of sugary mint tea, with chat of family and country bartering and haggling seals the deal.

Whilst you go to the square at different times of the day, and you’ll keep seeing it reborn. At times, storytellers spin tales. At others, the food stalls dominate the scene, packed with everything from dried fruits, nuts and orange juice to gleaming rows of calf brains.

The flavor of the market is it’s salesmen – aggressive, pushing everything from rugs to perfume, with prices “just for you, my friend.” With the happy cacophony of sounds – honks, braying of the donkey, the blaring music which keeps the shopper enthralled – it is a world of havoc – captivating havoc…

For a flavor of culinary heritage

Four-course meals are common here, the freshest salads, and meat platters ladled over fine bowls of couscous in the steaming tagines.

Pastilla

A must taste: Pastilla, a meat or vegetable pie with powdered sugar on its crust. There’s also fresh bread here to rival anything from Italy or France.

The mechoui sellers’s delicious slow-cooked lamb flavoured with cumin and salt is not to be missed. Stalls selling aromatic bunches of mint compete with colourful displays of ras al hanout, a popular spice blend, and jars of preserved olives and red peppers.

Visiting the bazaar

Thumb rule: If you decide to buy, the name of the game is to haggle. Offer about a third of the original price presented to you. You may as well make yourself comfortable as negotiations can take hours and be prepared to drink numerous cups of sweet mint tea in the process. It may also be possible to swap things, if you have designers T-shirts or trainers for example that you are prepared to give up.

The most interesting time to visit the souks is in the early hours of 5 – 8am, or late afternoon around 4-5pm when local traders can be seen bargaining for goods. Most stalls are closed in the evenings, although a few stay open till 7 or 8pm. It’s also worth noting that some souks are closed on Fridays, the holy day.

23 Mar 2011

http://www.thewanderers.travel/blog/index.php/morocco-marrakesh-market-a-treat-to-the-senses/

Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 based on 195 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]

This article is written by Chaitali Patel

Morocco, located on the north-western tip of the African continent feels like Europe and the Middle East rolled into one. When you’re there, it’s hard to tell that you are in Africa. Morocco is often described as one of the greatest shows on Earth. During our trip, the country fitted this description completely.

Casablanca, Morocco

Our two-week journey started from Casablanca, considered a city of romance. The actual city of Casa, as it is commonly known, is very different from this popular notion. But it is a city with soul and that’s what makes it special.

Majestic mosques…

In Casa, the majestic Atlantic Ocean provides a beautiful backdrop to the stunning Hassan II Mosque, the third largest mosque in the world after the mosques in Mecca and Medina. This mosque, the brainchild of the late King Hassan II, is undoubtedly a masterpiece of modern Moroccan architecture. Built entirely of material sourced from across Morocco, except for the chandeliers and a small quantity of white marble that came from Italy, this structure will take your breath away.

At dusk this ochre-coloured building turns to gold and looks as if it is emerging out of the ocean. The mosque can seat 25, 000 worshippers inside. If you include the open area surrounding the structure, then an astounding 80, 000 worshippers can pray together.

… And bustling markets

A three hour train ride from Casa will take you to Fes — a still living medieval city that was once the capital of Morocco. Once inside the majestic gates, we were transported to another era.

There are 9, 000-odd alleyways that crisscross the city and stalls that sell everything you can imagine. With rows of butchers, vegetable and fruit vendors, olive sellers, sellers of natural medicines and magic potions, leather tanneries and numerous old riads (traditional Moroccan houses), Fes will overwhelm your senses.

But the city of souqs (markets) is Marrakech, the tourist capital of Morocco. The main square, Djemma El Fna, comes alive as the sun sets. Rows of twinkling lights, smoke from the open ovens, delicious smells and Gnawa music will pull you towards the square no matter where you are. From snail soup to camel meat, almost all local Moroccan food can be found here. The square stays alive way past midnight as shoppers tired from their daylong bargaining join the locals to unwind.

The Djemaa El Fna Square In Marrakech

Marrakech is also the city of gardens. You’ll find traditional Moroccan rose gardens lining the famous Koutoubia mosque and the colourful and mysterious Jardin Marjorelle, created by the French artist Jacques Marjorelle.

True illumination

The Todra Gorge, Morocco

But a few days of taking in the mayhem of the souqs will leave you pining for some fresh air and quiet surroundings. It was at this juncture that we took off on a two-day trek to the Ourika Valley, part of the High Atlas mountain range. We spent the night at a local village up in the mountains. Our treat after the long climb, apart from the wonderful home cooked tajine and couscous was the fantastic, clear night sky, illuminated with thousands of stars. We followed this up with a visit to the Todra gorges — magnificent rock formations that change colour as the sun rises and sets.

The last part of our journey was to the Great Sahara desert. An hour-long camel ride at sunset took us to our little campsite under the stars. They say that desert nights are spectacular. But sunrise is no less of a spectacle. As day breaks, the sand turns into a rich red. The silence and vastness of the desert calms and humbles you. Like everything else in Morocco, it makes you want to come back for more.

Getting there

Most major airlines fly directly to Morocco or connect via other destinations in Europe, Asia or Africa. Jet Airways flies directly to Menara (Marrakech), while Air France-KLM connects via Paris.

Chaitali Patel

22 Jan 2010

http://travel.hindustantimes.com/travelogues/the-riches-of-a-desert-country.php

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 based on 189 user reviews.

[ | | | | ]