Marrakech

Our first stop of the day was the Majorelle Gardens. These gardens were built by painter Jacques Majorelle, and restored by Yves Saint Laurent. They are known for their vibrant colors and lush greenery- we got some great pictures.

Tucked inside the gardens is the Berber Museum, built by YSL to preserve the rich history and culture of the Berber people of northern Africa. There were lots of artifacts inside- it was interesting to see some tools that we saw in the village yesterday in the museum, and compare them to our real life experiences. Led by our fantastic guide Abdou, this museum really brought to life the history of an ancient people.

We then ate at the garden cafe, where we were treated to couscous, a traditional meal on Fridays in Morocco.

After the museum, we went back to the medina of Marrakech to explore another museum- the Maison de la Photographie. There were beautiful images inside showcasing daily Moroccan life, as well as a terrace overlooking the entire medina.

We then got a chance to go into the souks, groups of artisans selling similar crafts. In the metalworking souk, we got the chance to help an artisan engrave a lamp, intricate and difficult work. After that, we got the chance to look around and purchase some of the artisans’ work.

After exiting the souks, we stepped into the large square, which was much brighter than the straw-covered souks, where many more things were being sold, including handmade rugs and these colorful spices!

Although we had done a lot by this point, our day was not yet over! As a group, we went to the grocery store to get some snackie-wackies (translation: noun, contemporary Bob English, “delicious edible treats.”) for our long train ride tomorrow. The store was huge, with fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, and cheeses for us to choose from.

After a brief stop at the hotel, we were off to dinner at Café Clock. Dinner was delicious, and afterwards we were treated to some storytelling. Storytelling is an ancient art in Morocco, and our storytellers for tonight treated us to two stories about strong women (Happy International Women’s Day!).

Unfortunately, we also had to say goodbye to our guide Abdou, who joined us for fruit shakes with his family.

Then we came back to the hotel to relax, pack, and enjoy our last night in Marrakech.

Cat of the the Day!

A necessary honorary mention goes to Lil Lad, a wonderful cat we saw in the souks:

(P.S. Thank for all your help Abdou!)