December 2 - 9, 2016

 

 

Schedcation 6.0 was in Marrakesh, Morocco. I never knew I wanted to travel Africa until this trip, and wow, it has opened my mind and I wanna travel the entire continent now. Working remotely with Sched gives me so many opportunities and amazing experiences - this one included. If you’d like to catch a glimpse of our trip, check out the video that Kaitlyn put together. (Pssst, you can hire her to create a fun trip for your group too!)

This is what came to mind of this area before I arrived: the Crosby, Stills & Nash song Marrakesh Express, leather/tanneries, Moroccan rugs, fez caps, and the Medina. 

Marrakesh is steeped in its history and culture, as you can easily see in the souks of the medina - but it’s modern too with plentiful access to internet. It’s found its balance between the old and new.

We rented a big house with a staff that served breakfast (with fresh-squeezed orange juice) each morning, make dinner reservations, call taxis, answer questions, do laundry, etc. There was a hammam (steam room) in the basement and we all scheduled massages at the beginning of our trip. Seriously luxurious trip, right? Rob was even inspired by the birds on the grounds and included them in a song he created on the trip.

If you travel there, be sure to check out:

• Jemaa el-Fna (ساحة جامع الفناء) was overwhelming initially and then quickly became exciting and charming in its constant bustle. Be sure to avoid even looking at snake charmers or monkeys in diapers in the main square, as they will hound you if they think you’ve taken a photo of them. If you do want to take a photo of them, it’s typical to give them some spare change and walk away. Avoid “special tours” or anyone trying to “help” you - just walk away. Even children might try to trick you. Same for visiting a tannery, as it smells like urine and is most likely a scam.
• Gotta explore the souks for gorgeous lanterns and Berber rugs. You can purchase there and they will help you with shipping. For rugs, you can also purchase online at Al Matjar (prices ranging for smaller wool ones for $40 USD to big shaggy ones for $180 USD). 
• Enjoy the street food, like fresh-squeezed orange juice, harira (soup), sheep’s head, ma'gooda (deep-fried mashed potatoes), mechoui (slow roasted lamb) served with cumin + salt, and hout quari (grilled sardine sandwich).
• There are several places to have food or a drink with an excellent view. Here are a few ideas: Nomad, Terrasse Des Épices, Kosybar, Café des Épices, and Bazaar Cafe. Two coffees would run you around 50 Moroccan dirham ($5).
• Medersa Ben Yousseff is a 16th-century Islamic school and a must-visit to see the Moroccan tile, carved plaster, and intricately carved wooden doors. Entrance is 20 MAD a person.
• The Majorelle Garden / Jardin de Majorelle (حديقة ماجوريل) is small but worth a visit if you are interested in fashion and/or gardens. The garden entrance fee was 70 MAD.
• El Badi is an ancient royal palace beautiful in daylight and enhanced by its lit candles at night. 
• Cafe Clock, of Fez fame, has a restaurant and cooking classes in Marrakech. The location is in the Kasbah – a bit of a maze to wander to find. I went there initially for the camel burger -yes, real camel meat- but the menu offers really amazing food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• A 4 X 4 Camel private day trip “Two Valleys” where we were picked up at our villa at 9am and brought back around 4pm. We had a big group so the price was 500 dirhams per person for the tour + 100 dirhams per person for the optional 20-minute camel ride. We headed towards the Atlas mountains following the Ourika Valley. Depending on the day, you’ll visit a Berber market or heritage museum. You’ll crack nuts at the Argan oil cooperative, and head towards the second valley, Asni. It’s nice to bring toys/gifts for the local children. Lunch was the best part of the trip, as it’s set at a Berber family’s house with a stunning view of the Toubkal mountain and Atlas range. 

Just some general tips:

If you need a taxi, it’s best to use the Petit Taxi (small and yellow/beige in color). Haggle a price before the drive or demand that they turn on the meter immediately. I never had success using the meter, but that might just be me. Also, if you buy bottled water, make sure that the bottle is sealed. Don’t forget to read up on the local laws and customs - and enjoy your trip!