Vacances d'hiver: Marrakech, Day Three

Our last day in Marrakech was absolutely fantastic; it really showed me how wonderful people can be sometimes! We started off the day in the Majorelle Gardens, which are these really beautiful (and famous) gardens designed by Yves Saint Laurent. There is also a Berber museum there, which was pretty cool, so I got to learn a little bit of Berber history. Photos:

 

 

Bamboo!

Cool door =D

Yves Saint Laurent "Love" exhibit!

After the gardens, we walked through a new part of town to the Saadian tombs, which is a mausoleum that contains members from the Saadi Dynasty, including the sultan at the time. The area itself was pretty small, but they were definitely the most beautifully decorated tombs I've ever seen!

Once we saw the tombs, we went to lunch at a hole in the wall that had grilled skewers, and it was deeeelicious. Not only did we get skewers, we also got a dish similar to cassoulet, two huge rounds of bread (the bread in Morocco tends to come in circle shapes), a tomato dip for the bread, and a spicy sauce for the meat. Oh, and olives. It was so freaking good. The guys who owned the place were also really nice and after we finished lunch we took photos with the grill guy, haha.

Yummmm.

SKEWERSSSSS

Having finished a wonderful lunch, we headed back to the medina and did more shopping in the souks. Here's where the fun part comes in. So we stopped in this small shoe shop, and we were looking at the shoes for a while, and tried on a couple pairs, but he didn't have some styles in certain colors or vice versa, so he would run off to fellow vendors to find the right shoes for us, which was so nice and helpful! Then, while we were trying on shoes, he offered us tea. That's right, tea. In a tiny little shoe shop. And it was completely free! We said yes, and he brought us tea, and we sat down and had tea and chatted with him, and it was so nice; he was actually being genuine and it was just amazing! Anyway, we ended up buying a pair of shoes each, for a pretty good price too--we didn't even bargain because he had been so nice. Plus, the price he told us was around what we were willing to pay anyway. We also ended up getting a photo with him and exchanging emails so that we could email him the photo. So nice! So we left the shoe shop, content with some nice company, tea, and new shoes. We went back to Place Jamaa El-Fna and got henna done for 5 dirham (less than $1), then got a glass of orange juice each because there are orange juice vendors EVERYWHERE in Marrakech. Because there are orange trees everywhere, probably. Turns out our OJ vendor was also really nice and when I was trying to take a picture of his cart, he invited me to take a picture with him! So we got photos with the OJ vendor too. =) Haha. After that, we just went back to the hostel until we had to leave for the train station, because that is where our next part of the journey begins!

Vacances d'hiver: Marrakech, Day One

Hey all! Guess what? I am on yet another 2-week vacation (courtesy of the fantastic French Ministry of Education) and this time, I am in...wait for it...MOROCCO!!!!! AHHHHH!!! So. Freaking. Awesome. I got here yesterday around noon with my friend Louise (the same one I went to Belgium with), and we have been basking in the gorgeous 70 degree (Farenheit, of course) weather. We're staying in Marrakech until the night of the 28th, then taking the overnight train to Tangier, where we'll catch a bus to our next stop, Chefchaouen. Chefchaouen is this small but beautiful town where all the houses are blue and white--can't wait!! We'll be there for two days and one night, and then we're going to Fes, where I will stay for two nights and Louise will stay for at least one (possibly two as well) because she has to get back to Marrakech on the 4th to catch her flight to Spain. I'm flying out of Fes so I will most definitely be there two nights. Anyway, onwards!

We're staying in this hostel called Hostel Riad Marrakech Rouge, it's pretty awesome...and we can ask for free tea whenever we want!

Main building

Main building lounge

Door of our building--so colorful! =)

We haven't done too much so far; most of yesterday was spent wandering around Marrakech--our first stop--and exploring the souks. Which was...an experience. Vendors here are definitely the pushiest ones I've ever encountered. Most of them are male, and since it's just me and Louise, 2 girls who stick out like no other (I'm Asian, she's blond...not exactly helpful for blending in), they hassle us a lot by calling us weird things or complimenting our looks (except in a creepy way) and try and get us to buy their goods. Two of my favorite nicknames for Louise so far are "Shakira" and "Lady GaGa." As for me, they constantly ask where I'm from, and for some reason they always assume Japan first...one interaction went like this:
Vendor: Konichiwa!
Me: Je ne suis pas japonaise. Translation: I'm not Japanese.
Vendor: Oh...(is embarrassed) désolé! Translation: Sorry! (runs away)

Haha, yeah. It makes it pretty uncomfortable walking through the souks, but...it's still pretty awesome to see all the beautiful and colorful products! There are so many things I want to buy! Agh! Here are some photos from our exploration:

Louise in front of the Koutubia mosque

There are orange trees everywhere! Almost like Florida!

Place Jamaa El-Fna, the most famous square in Marrakech!

We also got to have a delicious Moroccan lunch at this place called Toubkal in the Place Jamaa el-Fnaa, which is the biggest and most central square of Marrakech. I got couscous with lamb; Louise got lamb tagine. Sooo good! I also got the Moroccan specialty, green tea with mint. Now that stuff is bomb. Definitely planning on buying some of that to take back!

Green tea with mint =D

Couscous with lamb

Anyway, on the books for today is a one-day excursion to Ouarzazate, also known as "the door of the desert," which is pretty damn exciting. Hopefully I'll get to ride a camel!