Marrakesh

After having been in the countryside for days, the experience of Marrakesh is an assault on one's senses. So many people, traffic, motorbikes, donkeys, people jaywalking, noise, movement; it's all a bit chaotic! Here are some encounters ~

Balek! They yell that as they come down the narrow passage ways. It means get out of the way, donkey coming through! And you best move it...

The town is known for it's horse carriages. Our group split up into 4 carriages and had a tour of the town. These guys ride in traffic, along with the thousands of motorbikes and cars. Everyone careens around the moving object in front of one's vehicle, honks to say I'm coming around! It's chaos. The horses, just trot along and are objects to be careened around 

The Argan oil workshop.  There is a shrub; goats eat the fruit; they discharge the fruit seeds through their mouth...or the other end. The seeds are collected  and these ladies crack open the seed with a mallet and harvest the insides. They then press that producing argan oil. Abdul was the sales man who dispensed argan knowledge to our group while selling us.

Yves St Laurent Garden. He created a bamboo forest and cactus garden with such plants from around the world. Very nice refuge in the chaotic city.

I bought two pieces of art from this one. After we settled on price, he said his boss wanted me to pay more. I shrugged and said no. Let's use the price we agreed to. He was happy to oblige. His workmates were making fun of him as I took his pic. He said will my picture be in America?!

A solar tree. It has plugs for any device that might need a charge; powered by the sun. Free. 

The first palace in the town circa 1100. This is the sunken garden filled orange trees. The sultan wanted the scent and fruit of the oranges while keeping the view open so he could see over the tree tops. In another part of town is the original bridge into Marrakesh, also circa 1100. It is still in use! We saw cars driving across it!!