Take a train to Casablanca going south

Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my m,m,m,m,mouth Cold coffins hang in the square Charming corporals in the square Don't you know we're riding on the Marrakech Express

29.07.2008 - 02.08.2008 32 °C
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We caught an overnight train from Tangier to Marrakech, this had us arriving just out of town early in the morning. We found a coffee and decided to walk into the town centre.

Djma El Fnaa is the main square in Marrakech and it may yet prove to be impossible for me to properly describe it here.

If you can imagine a large open square filled with the hustle and bustle of market sellers, smoke rising from BBQ stalls, swirling around the crowd as cars and motorbikes part the throng like Moses and the sea. It really feels old world and so full of senses that it it feels like a punch in the face. Only, in the nose, ears, eyes and skin as well. It is overpowering and it really does give the immediate impression that it will consume you without a thought.

Now that all probably sounds a little trite and wanna be poetic, but let me tell you straight – we had never seen anything like it and it excited us and scared the shit out of us at the same time. It was incredible.

We stayed at a Riad, just off the square and settled into getting to know the area immediately surrounding the main square and getting ready to meet Louwrens and Marianne.