Another day, another train. World’s Best Oranges not included.

 After a day of playing human pinball through Marrakesh’s medina, I’m too tired to give you a book report on anything resembling its unquestionably-accurate Wikipedia page. Still, I’ve been doing this flavor of tourism postings for awhile now, and I am sure you could narrate my photographs just as well as me. 

You know I love maps, and you also know that I think our country has a horrible geography curriculum. So here is your frame of reference. By the way, this map did not help us unlost ourselves while wandering around the old walled city today.

Marrakesh is a big tourist magnet- but such notoriety usually means that paying a visit is probably worthwhile. I’ve been lucky enough to see other amazing places in Morocco (merci, Christina) – but Marrakesh was a place that seemed to merit a return trip. For those of you who know nothing about Morocco, study the above map and then file this into your brain: Morocco does not suck. At all. Come here now.

So once again, I give you some random photos from the past two days here. The first two come from yesterday, right after I was spit out into Rabat and wandered to the vegetable souk for some produce shopping with the Rabat Olmsted Scholar. Completely exhausted, I was still happy for the chance to be surrounded by so much fresh fruit, nuts, vegetables, olives, grains, flowers…in complete tranquility. No aggressive vendors, no beggars following me around and tugging at my shirt. Just good vibes and better food for sale.

Yes, I look like something that the cat dragged in, but the very kind fruit vendor still came over and gave me a cadeau of fresh strawberries: “Welcome to Morocco”.  Thank you nice man with bad teeth- you and your country of functioning traffic lights could not have made me feel more at ease.

You know that scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (of course, the Gene Wilder one) where the kids go nuts when they are allowed to tear into the Chocolate Room? That’s kind of how I feel when I go into these souks.

Departing the vie quotidienne that is Rabat, Marrakesh and its tourist magnet emits a completely different vibe. The array of eye-catching wares that line these streets are in vicious competition with the unemployed men who would love to guide you through the medina. I actually resorted to flexing my ten word knowledge of the Wolof language in order to make them go away- they seem to be able to communicate in just about any language except Wolof.

A fuel stop at Cafe des Epices (Spice cafe) comes complete with a view of the vendors sitting across the way who yell over to you the prices of their wares….just in case you were interested in buying that fez.

There are only a couple of people in the main square, Jamaa el Fna. The square offers a great view of the gorgeous Koutoubia Mosque.

Panorama. This square is pretty vast.

Marrakesh is a big tangle of people sights and sounds, and if you can withstand all of the sensory torture, you will be richly rewarded. Supper for instance, came cheap and easy in the main square. After handfuls of “restauranteurs” tried to shepherd us into their respective food stands, we opted for one that was packed with people and had no one standing outside the awning.