Sunday, May 12, 2013

Midnight at the Oasis

 
 Greetings from Morocco!  The ladyfriend and I decided to go to Morocco instead of Scotland after reviewing temperatures and weather reports for Scotland in May.  So we're in the land of 99F/36C weather- sunny and hot and totally working for us.
The door to the Artisan Ensemble
Ceiling (duh) detail
Marrakesh is unlike any place I've ever been.  It really feels like a foreign country in ways other places - France, Germany, Japan, Iceland - haven't.  Yes, I feel like I've never traveled before.  It is a bit overwhelming and sometimes intimidating - lots of people trying to bargain with you, get you into their restaurants, run you over with their scooters.  I'm sure it's what New York City might feel to some.  We haven't taken pictures at the market yet in order to avoid being nickel-and-dimed for the privilege.  We're working up our nerve.  Rest assured, there will be a full market square report including our "henna bombing" incident. 
Josephine, the riad's resident turtle
We're staying in a lovely riad (Riad al Karama) in the medina where one can get a bit of peace and break from the heat.  At night we sit up on the rooftop terrace and listen to the call to prayer.  The last call of the day is my favourite - one voice rings out from a tinny loudspeaker and then others join it, each seemingly with their own message.  And then, one by one, they stop until there's one last call from way out in the medina and it's (relatively) quiet again.
One of the views from the terrace
Another terrace view

2 comments:

  1. Ah, the pattern! I would love the pattern but take a pass on the heat and market hawking.

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  2. Wow! That sounds amazing and transporting. Looking forward to the market pics:)

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