"Marrakesh, Morocco" a Marrakesh Travel Page by isabeau

I could hardly control the excitement when Morocco first became visible from the plane. I had the snow-topped Atlas Mountains on one side, and an arid land on the other, with what looked like scattered ruins. It was beautiful! As we approached Marrakesh, the olive groves came into view.

Marrakesh's Menara Airport was about as threatening as Disney World's Moroccan Village for my first visit to this country. I was relieved because I was exhausted, and traveling alone. I converted some money at the airport and then caught a taxi into the city.

Although the surrounding area is very arid, the road leading into Marrakesh was lined with rose bushes in bloom. The taxi took me to the Medina and dropped me off at the entrance to Jemaa el Fna. Apparently, after 1pm they are not suppose to drive through the plaza.

Nothing can perpare you for your first visit to the medina...it is overwhelming, and at the same time magical. Djemaa el Fna is a sea of chaos, a circus of sounds and images, with acrobats, story tellers, and snake charmers. The area is filled with participants and spectators...a monkey here, a cobra there...bicycles and donkey-drawn carts coming from all directions.

Although the medina can be confusing to navigate, once I felt more oriented, and familiar with landmarks, I wondered extensively looking at the architecture. The Ben Salah Mosque Minaret was my favorite. Notice the out-of-service donkey carts parked in front of the Mosque.

This former medersa, or theological school, is the largest in the Maghreb (north-western Africa).
The interior courtyard is very ornate, with intricate stucco decorating the walls. In the center of the courtyard is a fountain.

While I was visiting the medersa, there was a call to prayer. People immediately walked over to the fountain and began to perform ablution before prayer.