Helena has arrived! We started the day off with a big breakfast at our Riad. The spread includes an egg, freshly squeezed orange juice, and bread + roti with a lot of topping options: nut butter, jam, olive oil, whipped cream, banana, and cucumber with honey.
After eating, we spent the day exploring the streets of Marrakesh, wondering down different paths and stumbling upon many shops. I had some preconceived ideas that Marrakesh would be very chaotic, with people pulling you into shops and pressuring you to buy. I’d say this wasn’t really my experience though. Chaotic? Yes, definitely (but not as much as I had thought), and pressure to buy - not really. I found that the city is definitely catered to tourists, and many locals want to show you their spices, pottery, argan oil, soaps, and jewelry, but there is no pressure when you say no. Of course they’re trying to make a sale, but they do so with a smile and commonly offer complimentary mint tea to get you in the shop. Throughout the day, we probably drank 7 cups of mint green tea 😂 we had fun just wondering in and out of shops and browsing the offerings. Eventually we stumbled upon Koutoubia mosque, a beautiful and peaceful refuge from the busy market center of Marrakesh. We walked around the mosque gardens for a while, and felt peace amongst the many orange trees and shade.
We made our way back to the souks (open air marketplace), and kept wondering around until eventually we found ourselves in a rug shop. I found one that caught my eye, and settled on a price after much haggling. I consulted Jovan to make sure he likes it, and it will arrive in Indy in two weeks! When we got back to our accommodation, I was second guessing my purchase because it’s only my first real day in Marrakesh and I’m starting off strong with a big purchase so was feeling a little uneasy about my impulsivity there. But, it’s something from our travels that Jovan and I can have forever and will always be a reminder of the start to the journey :)
We had dinner and finished the night planning out what to do with our next days. Our Riad owner suggested a 3 day 2 night small group tour (~10 people) into the Sahara desert. At first were apprehensive of it being too rushed/touristy, but when looking at alternatives we couldn’t find a great way to get there outside of having a private driver or driving ourselves. Since it’s the beginning of the trip we opted for ease, and after learning the price it made it a no brainer. $100 per person total for a 3 day, 2 night which includes transport, accommodation, and all meals. We opted for the budget accommodation, but could’ve chosen a mid tier option for $150 or luxury for $200. So, we’ll see how the next 3 days shape out. We didn’t really get much information on where we’ll be staying, or what the detailed itinerary will be, but we have a general idea of the route we’ll take. Looking forward to seeing a bit of eastern Morocco!
Gallery
