Get documents about "Escape to…
Document Sample
Escape to…
MARRAKECH
Souks city
& the
Moroccan National Tourist Office
I Musicians in Djemaa el Fna, the city’s main square
crooked lanes I saw gates and lanterns being
From its mesmeric souks and lively main square to its beaten out on blacksmiths’ forges and
enchanting gardens, Marrakech is a feast for the senses, newly-dyed wool and cloth in bright
as Debbie Ward discovered. Except perhaps oranges, pinks and greens being strung out
to dry above the rickety roofs of the market
a tanning process using bird droppings… stalls.
The labyrinthine souks of Marrakech
spread from the north side of the city’s
“P
eegeensheet”, my Apparently, this unusual marinade helps famous Djemaa el Fna square, its social and
guide kept repeat- season the hides in the early stages of their touristical heart, and browsing them is one
ing, pointing at the transformation into leather belts and bags. of the greatest shopping experiences in the
stinking stone vats Working my way around the site I peeped at world.
of Marrakech’s the results of this age-old process through Once you’ve tracked down your purchas-
back street tannery the bunch of mint leaves I’d thoughtfully es by heading for themed sections such as
where all around me animal hides were been given to sniff. basketware or spices, the fun really begins
soaking. The phrase, and indeed the smell, It’s behind-the-scenes in the famous because the locals excel not only in crafts-
seemed familiar but it was only when he souks of Marrakech’s Medina or old town manship but sales. The general rule of offer-
resorted to the French expletive “merde!” where, if you’re prepared to get a little lost, ing around a third of a seller’s first price then
that I was sure: the vessels were indeed you’ll find some of the most memorable haggling to a midway point has no truck in
filled with pigeon excrement. sights (and smells). Elsewhere among the Marrakech. Most traders insisted I named a
Background image: Bahai Palace decoration/Peter Ellegard
March/April 2009 The Travel & Leisure Magazine 23
Top tips
When choosing your Marrakech
accommodation, do consider a romantic
riad. From boho B&Bs to plush boutique
hotels, riads are converted from
traditional homes with inner courtyards
and are plentiful in the old town.
One particularly upscale homage to
Moroccan design is the palatial La
Mamounia hotel
(www.mamounia.com) which reopens
this spring after major refurbishment.
I Guitar
Notable for its location, the nearest
Peter Ellegard
Peter Ellegard
heroes, major hotel to Djemaa al Fna (it’s
Marrakech virtually on the square) is the all-inclusive
style Club Med Village Marrakech La Medina,
one of three Marrakech resorts from this
company (www.clubmed.co.uk).
Morocco is a Muslim country so if
you’re a light sleeper you may prefer
accommodation in the new town,Ville
Nouvelle, rather than the medina where
a higher concentration of mosques sound
the dawn call to prayer.
Peter Ellegard
Peter Ellegard
Peter Ellegard
Peter Ellegard
I Orange juice stall
I Get around Marrakech by horse-drawn caleche I Koutoubia minaret in the main square
I Spot the pots at Jardin Marjorelle
price first or they themselves picked a fig- Get high… watch the epic transformation as carts stacked paste, watching my calamari, kebabs and with it towering minaret is a landmark near plant pots grace your patio they will almost
ure so outlandish I couldn’t guess where To really appreciate the world of the souk it’s with metal poles swiftly become hundreds of melt-in-the-mouth aubergine slices being pre- the Djemaa el Fna worth further exploration, certainly have been inspired by the city’s
they’d finally settle. best to get high. Not in the way Marrakech’s food stalls strung with lights, and street per- pared “live” on a charcoal hob. as is 16th century Ali ben Youssef Medersa, Jardin Marjorelle (www.jardin
Quizzing other tourists on their purchases first wave of tourists, the hippies, did in the formers appear to charm snakes, tell stories Like the ubiquitous Moroccan tagine of Morocco’s largest theological college, which majorelle.com/en), which was owned by
helps, as does the old trick of feigning only 60s and 70s but by finding a roof terrace. or pull themselves into impressive human steamed lamb or vegetables with couscous, is known for its fine stucco work. Also in the fashion guru Yves Saint Laurent from 1980
casual interest in a desired item and walking Café des Epices (www.cafedes pyramids. it’s a dining experience not to be missed while Medina, Bahia Palace, said to have once until his death last year. The garden was once
away if the price remains high. I finally epices.net, French only) affords great peo- When the giant outdoor nightspot is com- in Marrakech, but do check you’re paying for housed a harem, has 160 rooms boasting fine reproduced at Chelsea Flower Show and its
emerged triumphant with a colourful glass ple-watching opportunities over a small plete, slip down amongst the twisting char- what you actually ate and politely query any ceramic work and painted ceilings set around bold blue fountains, walls and pottery sparked
necklace, two hand-woven baskets and, my square within the souks. From here I viewed coal smoke and you’ll find the fresh orange discrepancies as substantial over-billing and a series of courtyards. a wave of garden centre reproductions that
visit falling just before Christmas, an array veiled women creating intricate henna tattoos juice and date purveyors of the day have been short-changing is rife at eateries in and You’ll recognise the distinctive Moroccan continues to this day.
of chunky candles and metal patio lanterns on tourists’ arms and a hat seller leading joined by rows of others selling bowls of around the square. decorative style from its humbler forms at It’s thanks to a centuries-old underground
for presents. The lanes are stuffed full of would-be purchasers back to his wares with snails (a legacy of French rule) and meze- home: star-shaped lanterns, coloured tea irrigation system that gardens like Majorelle,
much more: handmade hats and bags, the promise of his “best price”. style Moroccan delicacies. Palaces, mosques and museums glasses, geometric patterned tiles and their as well as the city’s palm trees, can thrive in
embroidered slippers, patterned pottery, silk As the sun starts to sink however, it’s the “Jamie Oliver is my brother!” claimed the Handicraft shopping and food are key ele- like have evolved from student bed-sit clutter the arid landscape. You can wander and won-
rugs, even studded doors and swords. I terraces around the vast Djemaa el Fna (Cafe proprietor of one makeshift restaurant as I ments of the cultural experience of into fashionable home furnishings in recent der at this cooling respite from the city with
almost literally bought the kitchen sink Glacier’s is a top spot) that are the place to be. passed. It had the desired effect of making me Marrakech but for finer arts head for some years. its shady paths and trickling water (and get a
when a beautiful beaten copper basin drew Here, with a sugar-laden mint tea, you can stop and laugh and I was soon seated before a of its palaces, mosques and museums. What you may not realise is Marrakech’s giggle from the much-photographed giant
my eye. rest your camera on the balcony edge and spread of bread, olives and spicy tomato The 12th century built Koutoubia Mosque influence on your garden. If any cobalt blue phallic cacti near the entrance).
24 The Travel & Leisure Magazine March/April 2009 March/April 2009 The Travel & Leisure Magazine 25
Beyond Marrakech
The Atlas Mountains, snow-capped in
winter, make a scenic backdrop to
Marrakech and the area around North
Africa’s highest peak,Toubkal, is near
enough for a day trip.
Imlil, about two hours from the city, is a
popular starting point for treks to Berber
villages where you can join the indigenous
people for tea in their homes or a haggle
in a market.Alternatively, take a camel trek
into the Sahara lead by a Taureg guide in
Peter Ellegard
distinctive blue robes or visit the scenic
port of Essaouira, 180km from Marrakech, I Marrakech street scene
with its sweeping beach, white-washed
houses and artisans workshops.
Excursions of a day or longer can be
booked through UK tour operators or
Marrakech facts
your Marrakech hotel, or you can arrange
a “grands taxi” for a day-trip to Imlil. When to go:
Spring and autumn have the most comfortable temperatures
(it can reach up to 40°C in summer) though as winters are
mild Christmas and New Year breaks are popular.
Scrub up clean
Another cleansing escape can be sought in a Getting there:
traditional hammam. The public version will Airlines serving Marrakech include Atlas Blue (www.atlas-blue.com),
see you scrubbed, massaged with oily soap British Airways (www.ba.com), easyJet (www.easyjet.com), Ryanair
and sloshed with bucketfuls of very hot (www.ryanair.com) and Thomsonfly (www.thomsonfly.com).
water (wear bikini bottoms, girls) in a tiled
communal room with men and women divid- Accommodation:
ed by different sections or sessions. Among Book accommodation through companies including Octopus Travel
the public hammams near the square is (www.octopustravel.co.uk) and Hip Marrakech (www.hipmarrakech.com).
Hammam da Pacha on Fatima Zahra, which
has a traditional dome studded with light Tour operators:
holes; it helps if you can speak French or UK operators offering Marrakech and beyond include Explore
Arabic to the rather grumpy attendants. For a (www.explore.co.uk), Classic Collection (www.classiccollection.co.uk),
more modern, gentler, spa experience still The Adventure Company (www.theadventurecompany.co.uk), Bales
incorporating the traditional use of steam, Worldwide (www.balesworldwide.com), Ramblers Worldwide Holidays
look to your hotel or one of the private ham- (www.ramblersholidays.co.uk),Walks Worldwide
mams you’ll be handed flyers for. (www.walksworldwide.com) and Nomadic Expeditions
Your skin aglow, you may decide you want (www.nomadic.co.uk).
a little more from a night on the town than
Djemaa el Fna has to offer, in which case Excursions:
head for one of Marrakech’s modern Local excursion operators include ItinerancePlus
nightspots. Among the most popular is Pacha (www.itineranceplus.com) and
(www.pachamarrakech.com), a restau- Berber Adventures (www.berberadventures.com).
rant-cum-club sister to the Ibiza icon. It’s a
classy joint, with a swimming pool on its out- Getting around:
side terraces; though be warned, you may Many medina sites are walkable and taxis are readily available
TL
find the drinks prices as hard to stomach as a (check the meter is running). “Grands taxis” seating up to six can be hired
whiff of peegeensheet. for longer trips. A more atmospheric option is a horse-drawn carriage or
caleche, available round touristy areas like the Djemaa el Fna.
Travel journalist Debbie Ward’s top tip for Tourist information:
Marrakech is don’t trust guides who tell you to Moroccan National Tourist Office: call 020 7437 0073,
go the full monty in the hammam – attendants
will take your towel and laugh… www.visitmorocco.com
26 The Travel & Leisure Magazine March/April 2009
