Day 2 - Marrakech

We woke up in the morning and took the train to Marrakech with Ali, Tasneem, and Zahra. It took about three hours. Train travel in Morocco is inexpensive and very reliable. I was impressed.

We got to Marrakech and took a taxi to our riad (guesthouse) which was located in some back alley in the really old part of the city. I was kind of scared, but when we got to it, we opened the door onto an oasis. It was really beautifully decorated, very clean, and comfortable. Whew!

The first thing we did was walk over to the Djemaa el Fna, which is the main square. Most of the buildings in Marrakech are made with red brick or clay, so they all look the same color, and people call it the "Red City." It is also the Hot City. By the time we got to the Djemaa el Fna, we were already grumpy and exhausted from being so hot.

The square is filled with vendors and street performers like snake charmers and women who will paint henna on your hands. Unfortunately, the Djemaa el Fna is also the place where many tourists go, so the Marrakshi vendors tend to take advantage. They grabbed us and dragged us around, then demanded payment for their services. One henna lady grabbed me and just started squeezing henna on my hand saying, "Free flower for you," then when she was done, she refused to leave me alone until I paid her. So, feeling a bit tricked and taken advantage of plus feeling unbelievably hot and tired made the Djemaa el Fna kind of an unpleasant experience for me. If you ever go, go late when it has cooled down a bit, and don't let the henna lady get you!

It was neat to see, though. There were people selling all kinds of things from skin care products to live animals to fresh dates.

Another warning for any potential travelers: the taxi drivers in Marrakech don't use their meters, and they will attempt to haggle with you on how much you owe them. Either insist that they turn their meter on, or agree on a price you are willing to pay before you get in the taxi and do not back down from it. There are so many taxis around that you will eventually find someone who will not overcharge.