Woken again by the muezzin, but managed to go back to sleep and had breakfast again on the roof of the hotel. Always a bit chilly in the morning.
Decided to visit the Jardin Majorelle, so looked it up in google maps, requested directions and headed out. Didn’t need a data connection for the gps because the map had already loaded, so managed to follow the route with relative ease. Why didn’t I think of that yesterday?
I’ll tell you why not – google was wrong. We arrived at the supposed destination but it wasn’t anywhere near where we were supposed to be. Only when I expanded the map could I see the place was about a km away.
Luckily the gps was working so we managed to get there eventually. It was worth it, the gardens were excellent. Once owned by a painter called Jacques Majorelle, it was later bought by Yves St. Laurent and opened to the public. Mostly cactii, but very colourful and very interesting.
Spent about an hour and a half there, then decided we’d rely on local knowledge and took a taxi to an old school – Ben Youssef Madrasa. The taxi couldn’t get close so we ended up walking again. It’s virtually impossible to find anything in Marrakech, there are no signs and it’s hundreds of alleyways. I managed to use the gps and practically stumbled upon the entrance which is just a non-descript doorway. Considering it’s one of the major attractions here it’s amazing it’s so hard to find. Maybe they want you to hire guides. It doesn’t help that whenever you get out the map the locals ask you where you are going and offer to help – only for money, as we found out yesterday. We were also convinced they just point you in any direction. One kid said the main square was along one alley, we’d only gone 20m when another kid said it was the way we just came.
The Madrassa was very impressive – amazing carvings and decorations all over the walls, in both wood and stone. We spent around 45 minutes there and decided to get some lunch, went around the corner and saw the Maison de Photographie. This is the no. 1 attraction in Marrakech according to Trip Advisor, but we would have missed it completely if we hadn’t walked past it.
Some excellent photos of Morocco from as early as 1870, and from the 1920s an 1940s. Scenes of the souks, and portraits.
Headed back towards where the first taxi dropped us, and after a few wrong turns and lots of offers of “help” found our way back. Took a taxi back to our hotel area for lunch. Found a cafe that looked OK. We shared a salad nicoise, I had beef skewers and Song had lamb skewers. Good sized portions, very tasty with lots of spices, and we went back to the hotel, not needing dinner.
Although early, we decided not to go out again, we were both a bit fed up with the noise and the hassle from the locals. I’m sure many are genuine and don’t mind helping, but we were conned twice yesterday and so don’t trust them.
Off to Spain tomorrow.