MARRAKESH (Day 8)

We had breakfast on our hotel roof. The market place was still and almost empty... but slowly came to life. We enjoyed watching the people set up their spots and stands.

We started the morning with some shopping and haggling.

We finally gave in and swung by the local snake charmer. He put snakes around our necks which we had to kiss for good luck. They then awoke a black cobra and proceeded to irritate it with round leather disks and flutes.

The Ali ben Youssef Medersa built in 1565 was located at very far end of the souks. It was much more touristy. Two craftsmen sat chipping out new tiles for the mosaic.

This medersa was larger than the others and also included second-story student quarters where supposedly 900 people used to live. The exceedingly tiny dark rooms had dirt floors and large solid wooden doors. Some of the luckier ones had a tiny window and a carved-in book shelf.

On the way back, we got lost and then stuck in a local traffic jam. Cars, trucks, donkey cart drivers, bikes and people all tried to shove their way past on the narrow dirt road lined with stores and buildings. The dust, fumes, heat and noise were incredible.

We spent the daily afternoon pause with tea on the hotel roof terrace.

We once again fought the streets once again to visit the Dar Si Said palace, now home to the Museum of Moroccan Arts. It was built by Sidi Said, Bou Ahmed's brother, at around the end of the 19th century. While there were many lovely local art pieces such as pottery, wood carvings, weapons, carpets and even traditional make-up on display, the building itself was far more stunning. An old wooden pavilion stood in a tree-filled courtyard and the floors, walls and ceilings of the rooms left not one spot undecorated.

We had dinner at the main market square again, enjoying our food beneath a spectacular sunset.

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