Day 11 Marrakech

Bad weather showed up early with rain and clouds in the morning . I went for a run in the rain and cold in the early morning, then we all woke up after and piled into the busy breakfast area. A large buffet awaited us, we prepared for the day in town and this allowed the sun to break out. To get to the Koutoubia Mosque, we all got into a horse drawn caleche and rode through the crowded streets past the Moumounia Hotel to the landmark Koutoubia tower and mosque. Of course, non Muslims cannot enter so we moved on to the Place DJemaa El Fna. Quite a scene although not what usually goes on at night yet. Many food carts were already in place as well as a few snake charmers and a performing monkey. We then plunged into the souks, narrow streets crammed with small stores selling and displaying all the handicrafts and other goods one could imagine. Calls and invitations to enter came from all corners and in all languages. Pedestrians competed against bicycles, mopeds, hand carts and the occasional mule. Some streets had wooden objects, food, spices, hats, shoes, jewelry and pottery to no end. We stuck to the main streets but did not really get out to the other areas of the medina. Watching Guittel bargain made the whole thing more interesting. Several hours later, we ended back in the Place at a restaurant for lunch. Delicious tagines helped us fill up. Mine was lamb with figs, the tender meat falling off the bone amidst the sauce, almonds and figs.

The afternoon was then spent visiting other sites such as the Saadian Tombs, from the early days of Marrakesh and the Palais de Bahia, a large house built around several central traditional courtyards. The rooms show the typical elaborate carvings, wooden decorated ceilings and mosaic tiles. Intermingled with the traditional décor were works of modern art including some quirky installations.We crammed into a grand taxi back to the hotel and took a little break trying to book a restaurant for dinner. understandably with New Year's Eve, all the recommended places were "complet" or outrageoously priced with special dinners. Finally we found a small French bistro not too far from the hotel by car. A short battle with traffic and we were there for 7:30 PM, relatively early by Marrakesh standards. New Year's is a big event in this tourist/expatriate city but even the locals seem to celebrate. The restaurant, Metro 80, was a small two storey bistro. They had a DJ and decorations for New Years. We took dinner a la carte and all enjoyed the meal. We drove back to the hotel, the Golden Tulip Farah, planning to go to the Place for late evening entertainment but somehow we did not get there. So New Year's Eve countdown was spent watching Arabic television, and that was the beginning of 2010 in Marrakesh!