Riad BB Marrakech

Asni - Saturday Berber souk

by vtveen

Asni is a small Berber village along the main road to the Tizi-n-Test Pass. Its location is rather scenic with good views of the Toubkal, with a height of 4167 metres the highest mountain of Morocco. The village is spread along the road with some shops and local cafés along the road.

First we had a Moroccan coffee in one of these local cafés together with our driver, before entering the weekly souk of Asni, which is hold every Saturday. Just behind the gate we reached a completely different world, although having seen the Kasbah and souks of Marrakech.

This rural souk looked like we were back in the ‘middle ages’. Fruit and vegetables are spread out on the ground, paths are muddy and most people look poor. In another part of the market vendors were selling chickens and goats, next to the stall of a (donkey)blacksmith. Perhaps most remarkable was the ‘car park’ with a huge number of donkeys. You may find it turning to the left after the entrance gate.
Such a rural souk is much more authentic (I would say a must see during a Marrakech visit) and we liked it much more than the more commercial souks in the city.

We were more or less alone between locals and after making an overall picture of the market some of them were rather angry. So we accepted the ‘help’ of a conman, although we intended not to accept offers from anybody. To be honest it felt quite comfortable strolling around with him. At the end he offered some Berber souvenirs and after a lot of bargaining (from 400 to 70 Dirhams) we bought one.
Be aware: Asni seems to be well known as hustlers, touts and conmen village.

Information
Asni lies about 50 km’s from Marrakech and is accessible by bus or grand-taxi. We visited the market during our trip to the Tizi-n-Test Pass.

Great Salads

by isabeau about Las Terrases de L'alhambra

This restaurant is in such a great location facing Jamaa El Fna square. I would stop here a couple of times a day because I fell in love with the L'alhambra salad. I would have that for lunch sometimes, and then come back later for mint tea. The second floor terrace is wonderful for people watching, so you don't feel like you are missing out on the excitement in the square. I met other travelers there that were so interesting, one of which had worked for the EU and shared a lot of information about Morocco with me.

Sidi Bel Abbes zaouïa

by call_me_rhia

Zaouïa means religious building, and this one dedicated to Sidi Bel Abbes, one of the seven patron saints of Marrakech, is a truly beautiful one. It is not possible to visit it inside, but it's possible to go as far as the courtyard to admire its architecture.

Getting there is just as scenic as being there, as you have to cross a very interesting covered passage: once you get there you'll be in front of a mosque and a medersa. There is also the resting place of Sidi bel Abbes.

You'll be surprised by the number of beggars in this religious building - most of them are blind and are reciting verses of the Qu'ran. It's an old tradition for blind people to pray at this place and beg for money. Sidi Bel Abbes in fact used to be a performer of miracles; in particular he was known to be able to give sight to the blind.

Wonderful Main Hall

by chrisvandenbroucke

The guide we were listening to ( I never ask or pay for a guide..) compared the Main Hall of the Saaidan Tombs to the most marvellous buildings in Spain's Granada.

I agree, the decorative work is fenomenal and the tombs are well carved.

You shouldn't miss this

khalid_2's new Marrakesh Discovery

by khalid_2

"Marrakech the City of Magic !!"

Marrakech, is the touristic capital for its capacity, its geographic situation, and its international airport, but it is also an imperial city impregnated with more than a millennium of history. Many dynasties established here the capital and the monuments testimony. Our visit began with the visit of the Bassin Menara (in arabic this means light).
We are about to visit the most known and visible monument in the city: Kountoubia of Marrakech. Yacoub El Mansour, the almohade King built at the end of the 12th century this nice mosque.
Its minaret is 69 m highand each of its faces is different from the others. On all the Arabian minarets we can remark 3 or 5 balls right on the top. If there are three the symbolise the earth, the water and the fire, and if there are five, they symbolise the five pillars of the Islam.

After having seen the souks of Marrakech, we went to admire the Saadians graves. The saadian dynasty ruled the Morocco from the middle of the 16th century to the middle of the 17th century and it let magnificent graves. The site was bricked up during centuries. Actually, the public may visit the graves. There are three separated graves: that of the dynasty’s kings, that of the kings’ women, and that of the children’s kings.
Marrakech

We were surprised to view at the entrance the storks in an immense nest suspended on a wall. The guide told us that the storks lived in Morocco. Wa had the opportunity other cities subsequently. The storks don’t go anymore to European countries.One of the most beautiful visits was offered to us in the afternoon: the visit of the medersa Ben Youssef. The medersa are Coranic schools. When you saw one, they resemble all. That of Marrakech is well-kept considering the others that we could visit.
Entering to the Medersa we can see a big central patio. The patio’s walls are decorated according to the Hispanic architecture: zelliges, sculpted stucco and an open shed in cedar. There is a pray hall in this patio.
The day finished with a free district in the famous square Djemaa El Fna. It is a vast square where the animation is completely phenomenal beginning with 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Snake-charmers and other animals can be seen in this square. There are also musicians that entertain the people. And also many sellers of grills, orange juice and other traditional products. The grill’s smoke and the houses give a formidable spectacle.

"Marrakesh, la puerta del desierto"

Marrakesh ubicada en el corazón de Marruecos, al pie de las montañas Atlas en la depresión de Haouz, también conocida como "la puerta del desierto" ó "la ciudad roja", es uno de los destinos más exóticos del mundo.

Fundada en 1062 por la dinastía Almoravides, debe su crecimiento a su localización en una encrucijada de caminos que hizo de ella un importante centro de intercambio comercial. Más de nueve siglos de gloria imperial mezclaron tradiciones árabes y bereberes dándole el particular encanto que aún conserva.

La cordialidad de su gente con su antigua tradición de hospitalidad, caracterizan la ciudad como un destino tranquilo y seguro que, junto a un clima agradable todo el año, particularmente en invierno, y sus fuentes, estanques, jardines perfumados, árboles exóticos y palmeras, invitan al descanso y la relajación.

Con una amplia oferta de atracciones y actividades como paseos en coches a caballo o en camello, tradicionales banquetes, fantasías árabes, modernas discos y galerías de compras, sin olvidarnos de pasear por los laberintos de la Medina. Es factible, además, practicar golf o esquiar en los cercanos picos del Atlas, apreciando en su trayecto impresionantes paisajes y características aldeas de adobe que se posan en las cuestas.

Fuera del círculo de la Medina, donde la vida ha sido casi igual por siglos, encontrará las áreas más modernas de la ciudad, áreas residenciales de amplias avenidas, casas elegantes y espléndidos jardines, que hacen que sus habitantes se jacten de ambos centros, el moderno y el antiguo, y de su estilo de vida que combina lo exótico y lo occidental.

La vida nocturna de la ciudad es muy completa y capaz de satisfacer todos los gustos, desde cenar en uno de los palacios viejos en las calles estrechas de la Medina, presenciar espectáculos internacionales o tentar la suerte en sus casinos.

La cocina marroquí es famosa en el mundo por sus recetas típicas hechas a base de verduras y frutas deliciosas, de especias raras y de una variedad grande de aves caseras, carnes rojas o pescado. No deje de probar un delicioso plato de cordero y especies llamado "tangia", que se cocina lentamente enterrado de noche en cenizas calientes.

En el Museo Dar Si Said podrá apreciar excelentes piezas de joyería de plata finamente trabajada, lámparas de aceite en piedra de Taroudannt, cuero bordado, alfarería rústica, trabajos en mármol, joyería berebere y una excepcional colección de alfombras.

Una vuelta por la plaza Djemaa El Fna le permitirá apreciar una fiesta multicolor con malabaristas, acróbatas, músicos, encantadores de serpientes, trovadores y contadores de cuentos entre otros, se reúnen todas las tardes para entretenimiento de habitantes locales y turistas.

Nada ha cambiado en las viejas curtiembres donde los artesanos usan todavía índigo para teñir de azul, antymonio para el negro y azafrán para obtener amarillo. Un recorrido al pasado para tener en cuenta y agendar.

Entre las mezquitas más populares debemos mencionar la de Kasbah, reformada durante los siglos XVIII y XIX, de la que se conservan originales el minarete y la monumental puerta Bab Agnau.

La mezquita Koutubyya (s XII) considerada una de las mejores piezas del arte musulmán y la de Bab Dukkala, al igual que los palacios del Badí, de Dar Baida y de Bahiyyah no deben faltar en cualquier recorrido de la ciudad.

En definitiva Marrakesh es una ciudad que no defrauda a quienes la visitan ya que tiene mucho, para todos los gustos y para todos los presupuestos.

Autor: Alejandro Villaroela