Paying to take photographs
by sue_stone
One thing that I didn't really like about Marrakech was having to pay entertainers on Djemaa el-Fna if you took a photo of them, or they happened to be in the side of a photo you were taking of the square. I realise that is how they make their living, but I really resented it somehow - perhaps it is because I am used to taking lots and lots of photos and I felt really limited in Marrakech.
And these entertainers are pretty crafty....It was quite amazing actually - at one stage I zoomed in from afar and took a photo of a band in the square. None of them were looking in our direction when the photo was taken.
As we continued walking through the square one of the band members suddenly appeared beside me demanding money! I don't know how he saw me take the photo - I can only assume that they have 'spotters' looking out for people like me trying to be sneaky. The snake charmers seem to be the wiliest - I am sure they have eyes in the back of their heads!
Best advice is to have a few small notes/coins in your pocket and pay for those 'must take' photos when required, 5 or 10 dirham should suffice.
Getting There
by keeweechic
Driving to Marrakech from other cities, you will find the roads very good. If you are travelling from Casablanca you will travel via the P7. To Fez you will travel by the P24. Driving outside the towns the speed limit is 100kms. In the towns the speed limit is 40kms. Seat belts are compulsory for the driver and passenger in the front and there is a zero tolerance on drink driving.
Calm in the garden
by puerto_lover
In the new 'french' area of Marrakech is the Majorelle Gardens. Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) lived in this city from 1919. You could say that the young Jacques was a 'nancy boy' having been born in Nancy, France the son of a celebrated furniture maker, Louis Majorelle.
He created the garden in the 1920s and is such an oasis of calm and exotic foliage that a visit is recommended. It is possible to walk from the garden to the medina in about 30 minutes. head for the main bus terminal and go past the place where the 'grandes taxis' are parked !
You can visit the garden from 8am until at least 5pm.
There is a small museum of Islamic Art and this includes some pictures /drawings made by Majorelle.
Walking in the Mellah
by ptitetoile
The mellah is the old jewish neighborhood whose population is now mostly moroccan moslims. There you will find almost no tourists...maybe you will have the opportunity to play with the children like Bridget! If you look for authenticity...you will find it here...but don't follow the "false guide" who will lead you to a synagogue that is not interesting at all!
Something different
by littlebush
Marrakesh-the name conjures up images of souqs, smells and madness.
We fly into Marrakesh and stopped for a day, before heading elsewhere in the country but came back to Marrakesh twice more to use it as a base to head off elsewhere.
To be honest unless youre into souqs,museums and mosques, theres not that much to see, and a day, maybe 2 will do.
We stayed right next to Djemaa El Fna, the main square which is a great spectacle.
Its busy day and night - with snake charmers, story tellers, dancers, musicians, food vendors and of course the orange juice sellers.
It sounds like its for tourists but its actually probably 90% locals.
At night the smells of the food is great.
The souqs are a maze/labyrinth of stalls that sell almost anything!
The guidebook warned of hustlers but to be honest i didnt find it that bad at all. Ive been to a lot worse places.
The best thing to do is to get in a cafe overlooking the square and sit and watch the madness go on below.
Sign in with Facebook
Near Bob Doukala gate
Marrakesh
The square.
Place Jemaa El-Fna (Marrakesh, Morocco)
