Marrakesh

Marrakesh is one of the most visited and colourful cities in North Africa and I much preferred it to Fez.It is not donkeys you avoid here, but motorcycles. They are lethal as they drive so fast and it is not unknown for motor cyclists to ride up close and snatch unwitting tourists' handbags!! It has a population of 1,600,000 and was founded in the 11th century, so it is 200 years older than Fez and much cleaner. It is an attractive city with lovely gardens and palm trees and most of the buildings are a pinkish colour. In the past it was rich because of its gold and it is now an important commercial centre. Medina, Malak and Casbar are the names of the three sections. Our local guide today was Mohammed, a Moroccan George Clooney! The photo of the brightly clothed men in red are water sellers.
Our first visit was to the biggest mosque in Marrakesh called Koutoubia. Interestingly, the mosques in Morocco all have square minarets. We then visited the Bahia Palace, the former home of the Prime Minister. The courtyard was shaded and peaceful until the tourist hordes arrived. In comparison to other palaces we have visited, the Bahia Palace was quite plain but it had the most beautiful cedar doors and ceilings.
We then spent a couple of hours in the souks in Casbar.There were caleshes (horse and buggies), snake charmers, monkey handlers and again hundreds of very colourful stalls with bright clothing, rugs and porcelain; spices, leather, copper and silverware, leather etc; people in Arab and Berber clothing and veiled women.However, the vendors didn't hassle us as in Fez, so bargaining was much more pleasant and they took 'no' for an answer. My only hassle was a couple of girls who had hennaed my arm almost before I realized they had done it!
I jumped straight into the pool on our return to the hotel before we were off again to visit a Berber village. At night we went to an evening in a giant tent called '1001 Nights'. We had a delicious 4 course Moroccan meal and typical Berber entertainment- belly dancing, juggling, acrobats and again the not very tuneful music!