At the end of March Luisa and I finally set off for Morocco, with Marrakesh as our first destination. The flight from Basel over the snow-covered Alps and along the Atlas Mountains offered a superb view and, already on the approach, a great first impression of the landscape around Marrakesh.
First steps in the medina
Our small hotel was right in the old town, the medina, so on the first two days we could reach all the sights on foot. The maze of narrow lanes took some getting used to at first, but with a good offline map we soon found our way around the colourful, beautiful lanes. From the central square, Djemaa el Fna, we walked on the first morning to the old Bahia Palace and the El Badi Palace, then made a detour to the nearby Jewish quarter with its cemetery.
Street food and city gate
On the way back we passed the great city gate Bab Agnaou before throwing ourselves at the street food from one of the many stalls on the old square.
On the flight from Basel: snow-covered Alpine peaks, clouds between the ridges.Left, a reservoir in the mountains; right, coastline and ridges – the view from the plane was superb.Folded, dry ridges of the Atlas below the aircraft window.Snow peaks above the wide plain – a first impression of Marrakesh on the approach.The golden perforated facade of Marrakesh airport, palms and flagpoles in front.Evening on the Djemaa el Fna: neon signs, smoke over the stalls, crowds.Across the rooftops of Marrakesh to the snow peaks on the horizon.Arabic on cracked plaster: please don’t stop here without reason – out of respect for the neighbours, thank you.Left, oranges with their leaves; right, a small glass of coffee on its saucer.Through the dark passage to the sunlit archway – everything in the medina is close, but twisting.Left, the Koutoubia above the green stalls; right, the tents of the Djemaa el Fna.Left, an ornate house front with balconies; right, an engraved brass tray on the wall.A carved arch and painted wooden ceiling in the old Bahia Palace.Trainers on a green-and-white herringbone pattern – the floor of the Bahia Palace.A pierced brass lamp in front of the orange wall.Left, a golden door ornament; right, round tile patterns on the wall.Patterned cloths hang against the peeling orange wall.A pointed arch in the pitted earthen wall of the El Badi Palace.Rows of small niches in the rough wall of the El Badi Palace.Sunglasses in her hair, a broad smile – travelling companion in Marrakesh.Green-and-white star tiles, up close.Colourful dried flowers in open bowls, twice.A weathered horseshoe arch, its plaster peeling.Left, painted niches with stars; right, stucco and brick.A studded wooden door marked 15, open onto a dark passage.Tall trees between the earthen walls of the El Badi Palace.Whitewashed graves on red earth – the cemetery in the Jewish quarter.Left, a man in a brown robe against a pink wall; right, a bicycle by a shutter.An olive seller in an apron behind bowls full of olives.A blue balcony railing and pale striped curtains.Left, a blue star mosaic; right, a brass bolt on the blue door.A blurred blue window grille, a small portrait on the wall beside it.Three cones in green, yellow and red – spices, artfully piled up.Left, a spice stall with sacks; right, colourful rugs on the wall.Storks nest on the Bab Agnaou city gate, the zebra crossing in front.Interlaced stone arches on the Bab Agnaou, up close.Drummers and a kneeling musician in red on the Djemaa el Fna.Left, a minaret and rooftops; right, the market tents – two views down over the medina.The Djemaa el Fna against the light, smoke above the crowd, the Koutoubia on the left.Left, carved masks under the awning; right, the “Aqua” neon sign.A trader between open sacks and baskets, bags hanging above him.Silhouettes in a narrow alley, light falling on the cobbles.Left, flames at the grill; right, smoke and diners – street food on the old market square.
