As we speak’s journey to the Moroccan metropolis is a extra typical flight, coming right down to earth at an unexpectedly trendy airport.
A trip in the heart of the magical medina:
There are literally two Marrakechs. One is trendy with chain shops, procuring malls and occasional outlets. The opposite is the one the vacationers come for – the souk that begins at Jemaa El Fna sq. and stretches into infinity with largely factory-made sandals, belts and different bits of leather-based trash that are enjoyable to haggle over.
If the haggling and elbow-tugging start to get you down, you possibly can head to fixed-price outlets at Souk Cheifia, the place you keep away from the junk in favour of sensibly priced high-quality rugs, textiles, spices, kaftans, raffia baggage and baskets, and leather-based the whole lot.
As we’ve carried out earlier than, we headed out to the Majorelle Gardens to spend a soothing hour. This little oasis of cool and color is to not be missed if solely to benefit from the lemon-yellow and cobalt-blue planters and the gleaming white of the water lillies – all a tribute to French painter Jacques Majorelle’s homage to the plant world.
If, like me, your knees normally fail to ship in your expectations, leap in a taxi to soak up the Koutoubia mosque, an actual look-at-me attraction topped with 4 gleaming copper globes and towering over the city.
An area ordinance forbids any neighbouring constructing being increased than a palm tree, which suggests the mosque retains its imperious dignity. It stays a spot of worship, and non-Muslims aren’t allowed to enter.
You may duck between each outdated and new Marrakech with out problem, and if you happen to fancy a spot more shopping in Marrakech, I’d advocate the much less unique however extra rewarding Ensemble Artisanal, a bit like a division retailer however promoting solely handicrafts which are barely costlier than the souks but additionally elegantly made.
For the women, that is actually kaftan and jewelry heaven. And sure, there are camel rides available within the streets and squares, and you may take a captivating tour by horse and carriage (for which it’s best to supply not more than two-thirds of the asking value.)
Luxurious and modern hotels behind the ramparts of the medina:
Marrakech has a number of good accommodations, however we selected to remain properly out of city. It appears pointless journeying to a location so near a mountain vary after which not staying the place the air is at its freshest. We selected the Fairmont Royal Palm some seven miles away. This can be a fantastically designed, elegant lodge within the five-star class and has the one aspect we at all times need in an excellent lodge – house, and more room.
It’s not simply within the communal areas that you just generally really feel you could be the one company within the lodge – it is usually within the rooms.
The lodge should even have the biggest man-made swimming space on the globe. It’s not a pool, it’s a tiled lake. You might have each citizen of Marrakech swimming in it and nonetheless have loads of house left over. Not solely that, however all that water is pleasantly heated. It’s odd, although, that with all this luxurious the lodge has such low-cost and rickety sunloungers within the lawns across the lake.
The lodge could be very a lot child-friendly with a youngsters’ membership and loads of out there nannies. It additionally has a rustic membership space and a lovely 18-hole golf course.
