World Cruise – Day 40 – Marrakesh, Morocco

The ancient city of Marrakesh was founded in 1062 and is located where the Atlas Mountains meets the Sahara. I’ve always wanted to visit, and it is definitely a Bucket List item with the colorful markets, bustling with people, fortune tellers, street acrobats and peddlers.

Our journey began with a 3 ½ hour bus ride. Not my favorite thing, but hopefully, worth the trip. I brought my Kindle, so the bus ride went pretty fast (I’ve been reading more books than I ever have on this trip!).

Upon arrival to Marrakesh, we stopped at the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest in Marrakesh.

We then walked to the Bahia Palace which was built toward the end of the 19thcentury. The tile mosaics and colored cedar wood roofs were amazingly beautiful. My years with the tile store, specifically all the Zellig tile that I loved and sold, all came back to me. Stunning!

After the Palace, we walked through the streets some more, and some small alleyways to our lunch destination – a typical Moroccan restaurant. We had salad, curry chicken, and couscous.

They even sold rugs at the restaurant.

We’ve learned that the Cruise tours usually try and ‘slip’ something else in to try and get you to buy things. This time it was a shop that sells herbs, lotions, and essential oils. Of course, we ended up buying some essential oil, which smelled amazing. Here is a pic of just a few of the jars in the store.

Finally, my whole purpose of wanting to go to Marrakech, we were going to the Medina and Souks. It was very colorful and exciting (bartering is a must); however, we went in the middle of the day when it was hot. There were only a few snake charmers, but not all the crowds and bustle that I was anticipating. We heard that if you go at night, it is packed and that is when you see all the acrobats, street performers, etc.

I did have a snake charmer con me out of $10 just for a photo with a snake on my head, but I guess it was worth it (Jim, I know you will appreciate that since Leslie was getting nowhere near the snakes).

After only 45 minutes of free time (not nearly enough), we had to head back to the bus (another 3 ½ hour drive) and the boat. It was worth the long bus ride to knock it off my Bucket List, but a slight disappointment. I guess they all can’t be winners…

Goodbye, Marrakech.

Next up – a Sea Day, then our last stop Lisbon, Portugal.

p.s. The dress I'm wearing, I bought in Langkawi, Malaysia. Mom - still no repeats.