Day 38 - Marrakech, Morocco

Our last destination is Marrakech. After driving through the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains and feeling quite sick we arrived in another mad city where everyone constantly beeps their horns - Marrakesh. We walked through the narrow streets of the medina where we constantly had to avoid donkeys and motor bikes.

We found some snake charmers who became quite insistent that we wear snakes and take photos.  Several charmers insisted on giving us snakes whilst another played a flute to charm another snake. I constintently indicated no then they put out their hat for money. I explained when I take some pictures I will pay. K took a couple of pics of Finn and when paid with a coin the charmer insisted on a paper note. We began to get surrounded by them and it became somewhat confusing. The guide intervened and that's when the charmers started to,yell. We quickly walked away and the charmers ended up with no money.

Later in the evening we returned to the square where thousands and thousands of people crowded. I had researched and we had been warned to be aware of pickpockets. I carried only the hotel key just in case.

Women are of the marriaging age at 14 and Tilly has been the focus of many a young man often commenting on her blue eyes. We spoke to her before coming to Morocco about holding our arms (as, according to her, she is too old to hold our hand) and I always walked behind both her and Finn. 

There was different music playing from every direction and beggars - some in a very sad state, were everywhere. When we went through an eating area we walked the gauntlet of canvassers who, with every step, tried to persuade us to eat at their small area and none would take no for an answer. We finally chose one and every few seconds whilst sitting, waiting and eating there, were pestered by people attempting to sell their wares.

The smell of spices filled the air as did the voices from shopkeepers beckoning us to look at their wares. It was an insane experience and after two hours we decided it was enough. Returning to the hotel was just as crazy with cars, horses, bikes and people just going everywhere. It is organised chaos as despite what appears as an absence of road rules and the sense that it is every man, woman and child for themselves, people seem to get where they want to in one piece.