Day 2 - Saturday cont...
I'll start with last night because we went to an amazing restaurant just off Jemaa El Fna square for dinner.
Before dinner we had a wander around the night market in the square. It was just as busy, if not busier, come dusk as it was during the day. In the evening all the food stalls are out in the centre of the square selling soups, spicy sausages, kebabs and tagines. It smelt delicious. Although we try our best not to look too much like typical English tourists we clearly do as everyone seemed to offer 'Asda price' food and wanted to 'see us later alligator'. One food seller even claimed that Jamie Oliver was his 'brother from another mother'!
We weaved our way through the stalls and dodged our way through the musicians, monkeys and array of snakes (my heart had already stopped once when a youngster thrust a wooden snake at me earlier!).
The restaurant, recommend by our hotel, was called Al Baraka, and was just off the square next to the police station. It didn't look anything too exciting from the outside but as soon as we stepped through the door it was like a small oasis of calm and we immediately forgot the hustle and bustle of the square outside.
We were seated in the cosy Caid room on plush banquettes around a candle lit table.
We had a selection of Morroccon salads with bread, followed by rice and minced meat pastry parcels served with local cocaine (aka sugar). Then we were served chicken and olive, lemon chicken and lamb tagines with cous cous. And just as we thought we couldn't fit any more in the waiter brought out cinnamon dusted Orange slices, pancakes and a variety of sweet biscuits. Those of you who know me will also be surprised to hear I even drank the local whisky, which was disguised as mint tea. Fortunately it was so minty you couldn't taste the tea and it was a very small glass. I thought it would be rude not to drink it.
I got so carried away with the food I almost forgot to mention the musicians who kept us entertained during our meal and also the belly dancer!
There were a few people in the restaurant but clearly not nearly as many as they usually get. The waiters told us that they had been very quiet since Thursdays attack so were grateful we'd still come and thanked us.
We got a taxi home, it was a bit like being at Alton Towers and you'd be surprised the gaps a clapped out old Peugeot 205 can fit through, but we made it. I think mum had her eyes closed for most of it!
Day 3 - Sunday
Bit rainy today. Had to buy an umbrella from an opportunistic street seller who was hovering at the bus stop.
We persevered anyway and made our way to rue Yves Saint Laurent to the Jardin Marjorelle. These beautiful gardens were originally bought and created by French painter, Jacques Marjorelle, until he passed away in 1962. The gardens have since been acquired and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge. Cacti, bamboo and bright blue, yellow and orange colours adorn this unique garden.
We had lunch in the cafe which was decked out like an Arabian berber tent. Didn't imagine I'd be enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate in Marrakech but I have to say it went down a treat.
The sun came out just in time for our appointment at the hotel hammam (spa). Skipping the traditional scrub we opted for just the massage. Am now feeling very relaxed.
Had dinner at Bagatelle on rue de Yougoslavie. It was a very nice French restaurant, which seems to be the second most popular cuisine here. Lovely!
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