Weekend Trip to Marrakech, Morocco
Photos taken September 4, 2010 - September 6, 2010

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Arriving at the Marrekech airport
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Marrekech airport
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We began our day by going canyoning. Here we are stopping to pick up our gear at the company's home base in the Atlas mountains
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Jay and the Atlas Mountains
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Jay, Kelly and the Atlas Mountains.
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Beginning our excursion - trekking to the riverbed path that will take us to our two canyons that we will repel down.
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view of the Atlas Mountains
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Hiking in a dried-out riverbed. In the winter, this is a flowing river. Even in the summer, a rushing river flows here after heavy rains.
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Hiking.
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Climbing around some rocks.
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Kelly - wearing gymshoes - avoiding a pool of water.
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Jay - wearing sandals - jumps right in.
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Jay is first to attempt the descent!
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Trying to figure out how this works.
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On my way down. There was a big gap in the middle, so I had to reach wide to have somewhere to put my feet!
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Pausing for a photo, looks like I'm just relaxing.
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Made it down!
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Canyon #2 - Kelly's turn to descend first.
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Kelly in action.
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This gives you a good perspective of walking down the canyon wall
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Canyon two was much taller than one. 1 was about 15 feet, 2 was about 60 feet. See Kelly way down there!
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Canyoning complete. It was very, very fun, and over too fast.
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Koutoubia mosque as seen from the edge of Djemaa el fna (the main square) in Morcco's old town - the medina.
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Walking through the old town to our Riad - most vacation rentals are privately-owned bed and breakfast houses called Riads.
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Walking to our Riad.
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Our front door.
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The center of our Riad was a courtyard open to the sunlight. This is where we breakfasted every morning.
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View of the courtyard from the second floor landing.
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Lower rooftop terrace.
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Upper rooftop terrace.
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Entry to our room - protected with a padlock :).
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Double doors opened, curtains pulled back.
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Our bedroom.
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Our bedroom.
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Showing off the fancy lighting.
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Our living room.
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Our giant, open shower.
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Man pushing a cart full of clay pots. The old town was full of push carts, donkey carts, bicycles and motorcycles. Not so many cars. (We're on the edge of the old town, which is why you see the cars here).
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Getting my first glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice. So yummy! And for only 30 cents! I think I drank 6 of these in two days. Not counting breakfast.
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Koutoubia mosque, at dusk. Originally built in the 12 century AD, but it has been rebuilt a couple of times.
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For dinner, we walked out of the medina's ancient city walls to the new town. Inside the old town (the medina), there is almost nothing cosmopolitan. One of our first signs of 'normal-ness' -- McDonald's. And in Arabic too - cool! No, we didn't eat here.
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Coca-Cola with lime.
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Coca-Cola in Arabic.
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Dinner time! We ate at Al Fassia, a popular Moroccan restaurant, owned and operated completely by women. Wonderful to see this in a Muslim country. Sign of progress?
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Kelly's meal - Chicken tajine with carmelized pumpkin. At first glance, she was terrified, but she absolutely loved it. Claims it is the best chicken dish she has ever eaten. I ate some also, it was excellent.
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My meal - chicken, lamb and minced meat kabobs. Served on saffron rice. Also very good, but not as superb as Kelly's.
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Our holiday took place during Ramadan. Here you see hundreds of men in the final prayer of the day, at about 10pm.
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Back at the main square. Not permanent lighting exists in this square, so storytellers, dancers, musicians, etc. bring their own oil lanterns. Dozens of individual circles develop, each with a unique private show. Very cool. Oh yeah - this guy was playing guitar with a live chicken on his head.
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Dancer / musician. Playing some sort of percussion with his feet. He ran after us for a tip immediately after we took this photo...
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Stalls selling all sorts of nuts and seeds.
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Spice cake for sale.
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Kelly was drawn to the spice cake, but didn't like it, so I ate it all.
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And what else to wash down the spice cake, but more orange juice!
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Many shops in the market sold beautiful stained glass lamps and chandeliers.
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Sunday morning breakfast, prepared especially for us. More OJ, freshly brewed coffee, hot milk, hot water, rolls, eggs, bread and jam.
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Kelly at breakfast.
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Breakfast.
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Heading out for the day. This was our Riad's street.
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At the end of the street, another donkey cart.
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Koutoubia mosque again. Many horse carriages were available near the main square, but carriage ride in 100+ degree heat did not seem very appealing.
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Kelly in front of the Koutoubia mosque.
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Visiting the Saadian Tombs. Made in the late 1500s, but only discovered in 1917.
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Saadian Tombs, very beautiful elaborate carvings throughout.
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Saadian tombs.
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Saadian tombs.
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Saadian tombs.
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Saadian tombs.
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One of the mausoleums at the Saadian tombs.
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One of the mausoleums at the Saadian tombs.
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Balancing a basket of goods on her head!
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Visiting the ruins of the El Badi Palace. Built in the 16th century.
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El Badi Palace ruins
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El Badi Palace ruins
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El Badi Palace ruins
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El Badi Palace ruins
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El Badi Palace ruins
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A group of storks have made their home atop the palace walls. Very cool.
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Hello mister stork!
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How many satellite dishes do you see? And do they point to mecca?
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Walking through the old town, we encountered several very ornate entrance doors.
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Ornate entrance door.
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Ornate entrance door.
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Ornate entrance door.
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The medina contains Morcco's largest souk (traditional market). It sprawls over many streets throughout the old town.
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Fresh greens and more nuts and seeds for sale in the souks.
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Typical street in the medina.
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Typical street in the medina, another donkey cart.
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Typical street in the medina.
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Visiting Ben Youssef Medersa, a 16th century Koran school. Completely covered with carvings and mosaics. Very beautiful.
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Ben Youssef Medersa Koran school
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Ben Youssef Medersa Koran school
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Ben Youssef Medersa Koran school
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Ben Youssef Medersa Koran school
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Kelly at Ben Youssef Medersa
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Stopping by the live chicken market!
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Guy walking away with his purchase, a live chicken! Kelly wanted to buy one to take home, but I wouldn't let her. (Okay, I made that up.)
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Looking back at the Koutoubia mosque from the Djemaa el Fna (main square).
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Visting the Jardin de Majorelle (Majorelle Garden), designed by French artist in 1920s when Morocco was still a French colony.
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Jardin de Majorelle
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Jardin de Majorelle
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Jardin de Majorelle
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Jardin de Majorelle
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Jardin de Majorelle
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Turtle swimming in a pond at Jardin de Majorelle
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Jay at Jardin de Majorelle
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Kelly and Jay at Jardin de Majorelle
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Kelly an Jay again at Jardin de Majorelle
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Jay watching the turtles. And unintentionally giving the photographer the finger!
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We ate dinner here, and were given a brief tour when we stopped by to make reservations.
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Sunset in Marrakech.
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Eating dinner. Lasagna for Kelly and some Chicken+ham+cheese dish for me. Mmmmm.
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Flying home.
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Flying over Spain.
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Flying over Spain.
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