Today we will get to know Marrakech in more depth.
Marrakech
We have breakfast at 8.30 am in our accommodation. It has a very nice little roof terrace. Breakfast consists of mint tea (you have to ask for it beforehand without sugar) or coffee, bread and crêpe, cheese, hard-boiled egg, juice, yoghurt, jam and nutella. Very complete.
The first thing we do is go to the Hotel Ali to change money, open from 8.30 am to 10 pm. Although there are more money exchange offices in the Medina, it is worth coming here, as it is the one that offers the best exchange without commissions. It is located next to Jemaa el-Fnaa square. We changed at 10.60 €/dh without commission. There is usually a queue so be patient.
Today we visited the Medersa Ben Youssef , the Secret Garden, the souk, the Gueliz district, the Menara Gardens and the Koutoubia Mosque.
Medersa Ben Youssef
First stop is the Medersa Ben Youssef. This is the most important madrasa or Muslim school of higher studies in the city and the largest in Morocco. Although the Koran was studied here, other disciplines such as astronomy and medicine were also taught.
During your visit you can explore the cells dedicated to study and the central courtyard. You will be fascinated by the richness of its decoration.
Medersa Ben Youssef
Next to the Medersa you can visit the 11th century Koubba El Baaydin , the only remaining building from the Almoravid period in Marrakesh.
Koubba El Baaydin
After the visit to the Medersa we stopped for tea in a very traditional local bar where all the men were drinking coffee (it is difficult to see a woman in a bar, let alone alone alone).
Mint tea
We continued to the Secret Garden, an oasis in the Medina, 5 minutes walk from the Medersa. It was built in the 16th century as part of the riad of the governor of the Medina (riads are old traditional Moroccan houses with a garden or inner courtyard with a fountain) but fell into oblivion in the middle of the 20th century and the restoration and recovery work restored it to its former splendour and inside you can find a photographic exhibition with the evolution of the Garden.
It is divided between an exotic garden and an Islamic garden where you can observe the water use system.
It has a nice terrace with a bar and the best views of the garden.
Secret Garden
There is usually a queue to visit it in the middle of the day due to the heat but it is worth disconnecting from busy Marrakech in this little oasis.
We leave the garden and have a fresh pomegranate juice. There are juice stalls all over the city and they make it for you on the spot for 20dh.
Juice point
The souk occupies a very important part of the Medina, to move around you will have to walk through these labyrinthine streets grouped by guilds.
Souk
We stopped for lunch at the Fanouns restaurant. It has a lovely, quiet terrace and we ordered pastilla (chicken and almond pastry in filo pastry covered with honey) and lamb tanjia for 175dh. The tanjia is a lamb stew that is also baked in a clay pot called tanjia.
Tanjia
Gueliz neighbourhood. After lunch we went to visit Gueliz, the most modern quarter of Marrakech with luxury shops and pubs, where the most cosmopolitan people of the city live. Apart from the big chain shops and bars, there is little else to see in Gueliz, a modern neighbourhood of tall, luxurious buildings in contrast to the traditional Medina. However, any drink costs four times as much as in the Medina.
We walked there from the Medina and it took us almost half an hour. Another option is to take a taxi for 3 or 4€.
Gueliz
After Gueliz we went to visit the Menara Gardens, a meeting place for the Marrakesh people to enjoy the summer evenings.
The gardens are built around a large Almohad pond, surrounded mainly by olive trees. A good place to watch and chat with the locals.
To get there we took a taxi, it is two kilometres from Gueliz but the heat of the day was taking its toll on us.
Menara Gardens
From the Menara Gardens we took another taxi to the Koutoubia Mosque next to the Jemaa el-Fnaa square for 3€.
The Koutoubia Mosque (12th century) is one of the largest mosques in Morocco and the most important in Marrakech. It is closed to non-Muslims but you can walk around it and enjoy its architecture.
Koutoubia Mosque
Back in Jemaa el-Fnaa square we enjoyed a mint tea to watch the sunset on one of the most emblematic terraces of the square, the Glacier Café. The panoramic terraces are expensive but well worth the experience. 45dh for tea and a soft drink.
Jemaa el-Fnaa square
Dinner at Snack Toubkal, never fails, good views and good value for money. Two chicken tajines, one and a half litre water and yoghurt for 99dh.
Tip. If you don't have much time in Marrakech, the must-see places in Marrakech are Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the Ben Youssef Medersa, the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. Remember that everything closes at 5 pm.
Accommodation Riad Tamazouzt, double room with bathroom and breakfast 33,80€ 2pax
Entrance Medersa Ben Youssef 50dh/pax
Entrance to the Secret Garden 100dh/pax
Pomegranate juice 20dh
Lunch Fanouns restaurant 175dh lozenge and lamb tanjia
Taxi from Gueliz to Menara Gardens 50dh
Taxi from Menara Gardens to Koutoubia Mosque 30dh
Café Glacier 45dh mint tea and soft drink
Dinner Snach Toubkal 99dh, two chicken tajines, one and a half litre water and yoghurt
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