I discovered that there was no need for an alarm clock when, at 04:45, the Muezzin in the local mosque started the call to prayer. The local mosque being about 100 metres away, and with the aid of a PA system that really wasn’t necessary, woke up everyone in the neighbourhood. It finally stopped after about 10 minutes, but someone must have hit the snooze button, because he started again 5 minutes later.
Couldn’t get back to sleep so read until time for breakfast.
Temperature was about 14C in the morning, expected to get to about 24C.
Got a map from the hotel and the guy pointed out the places of interest, but we discovered later that the map was next to useless.
Headed off to the main square (Jemaa el Fna), then wandered into the souk (basically the market). Learnt very quickly that to stop and look at anything was an invitation for the shop owner to follow us around for the next hour offering ever decreasing prices for the item we showed a passing interest in.
Song bought a camel. Not a real one thankfully.
The place is very dirty and smelly, and mopeds are everywhere – the streets are very narrow and packed with pedestrians but this doesn’t stop them from speeding past.
Found our way to Bahia Palace, and it was at this stage that we realised that the map didn’t have enough detail to be of much use, coupled with the fact that very few of the streets have signs. The palace was quite impressive; not furnished, but mainly a showcase for the intricate carvings and other details. It was very busy, lots of tour groups milling around and impossible to get any photos without any one in.
We left this palace and headed off to find El Badi Palace. We found ourselves trailing behind a tour group, and I suggested we just follow them around. My cunning plan was foiled when they immediately got on a bus.
Started to warm up, around 25C.
Whilst studying a map to try and find where the palace was, a young guy asked us what we were looking for. He immediately said he didn’t want any money, he wanted to practice his English.
He showed us around for a while, took us into the Jewish area and told us about the history. He introduced us to a shopkeeper who was selling spices and then left. We bought some mint tea and went to get some lunch.
Found a place and I had a Tangine of chicken and olives which I expected to be a symphony of Moroccon spices but just tasted like chicken with olives. Song had cous cous with 7 vegetables. I didn’t know there were 7 vegetables.
Went to the El Badi Palace which was a bit disappointing – mostly a ruin.
Went looking for some gardens, and a young bloke asked us what we were looking for, then insisted on showing us the way. After winding around several alleyways he stopped and pointed down the road and held out his hand. We gave him a few coins and he protested it wasn’t enough so we gave him about $5 but he still wasn’t happy. We walked off.
5 minutes later we were still lost and bumped into the guy who sold us the tea. He dragged us around for a few minutes, then did the same trick of pointing down the road and asking for money. Gave him $5 and he wasn’t happy either.
Hopefully we’ve learnt our lesson.
Found our way back to the hotel, had a rest and looked for somewhere to go for dinner.
Found a place from trip advisor that was close to the hotel and once again couldn’t find it. Either the maps are useless or the places are in a different dimension because no matter how many times we backtracked we couldn’t find it.
Ended up going to another place from trip advisor. I had a Moroccon salad followed by a Tangine with lamb. Song had a vegetarian tagine.
The food was very good – my salad was a mix of 4; spicy capsicum, eggplant, shredded carrot and something like squash. The tagine had lamb, walnut and dried fruit. A lot better than the one I had for lunch.
Song was very happy with her vegetarian tagine.
Wandered back to the hotel, went to bed and waited to be woken up at the crack of dawn again.