Marrakech: Lost My Sandals, Found My Soul (Probably)
okay, so. marrakech. where do i even begin? i’m still picking sand out of places I didn’t know sand could go. it’s been…a lot. a beautiful, chaotic, slightly terrifying lot. i’m running on fumes and strong mint tea right now, but i promised myself i’d document this before my brain completely melts.
i just checked and it's drizzling a bit, but mostly just…humid. like, clinging-to-your-skin humid. not exactly ideal for wandering the souks, but hey, adds to the adventure, right? i’m pretty sure i sweated out about a liter of water just trying to navigate the Djemaa el-Fna. seriously, that place is intense. Snake charmers, storytellers, food stalls…it’s a sensory overload in the best possible way.
Speaking of food, i ate tagine. a lot of tagine. chicken, lamb, vegetable…i’m pretty sure i’m 50% tagine at this point. and the pastries! oh god, the pastries. I’m going to need a week of yoga and kale smoothies to recover. I found this amazing little place near the *Koutoubia Mosque* - it’s called Dar Yacout, apparently. Someone told me that it’s ridiculously touristy, but also worth it for the rooftop views. I’ll add it to TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294249-d783888-Reviews-Dar_Yacout-Marrakech_Marrakech-Region.html.
My biggest mishap? Lost my sandals. Seriously. Just vanished. Poof. Gone. I was wandering through a spice market - the smells were incredible, by the way, seriously, go to the spice market - and when i turned around, they were gone. I suspect a rogue monkey. Or maybe a very stylish local with a penchant for footwear. Either way, i had to buy a pair of ridiculously uncomfortable leather slippers. They’re…rustic. Let’s go with rustic.
“Don’t trust the henna artists near the main square. They’ll charge you double if you look like you don’t know any better.”
That was some drunk advice i overheard at a cafe. Seemed legit. I didn’t get a henna tattoo, just in case. I did, however, spend a ridiculous amount of money on argan oil. Apparently, it’s the secret to eternal youth. We’ll see about that. I’m already feeling the effects of the sun.
if you get bored, essaouira and agadir are just a short drive away. I didn’t make it to either, but i’ve heard good things. Essaouira is supposed to be really chill, a surfer’s paradise. Agadir is more of a resort town. I was too busy getting lost in the medina to venture further afield.
I spent a good chunk of time just wandering, getting hopelessly lost, and occasionally stumbling upon hidden courtyards and stunning riads. I found this amazing little shop selling vintage textiles - seriously, the colors were incredible. I’m kicking myself for not buying more. Check out this Yelp review: https://www.yelp.com/biz/souk-el-khodja-marrakech. It’s a bit vague, but it mentions “unique finds.” That’s all i need to know.
“The best way to navigate the souks is to just embrace the chaos. Don’t try to plan anything. Just wander and see what you find.”
That’s what a local warned me about. And he was right. Trying to follow a map is pointless. Just go with the flow. Haggle hard. Drink lots of mint tea. And watch out for monkeys.
I’m already planning my return trip. Next time, i’m bringing a bigger suitcase (and maybe a pair of sandals with ankle straps). I also want to explore the Jardin Majorelle. It looks absolutely stunning. https://www.jardinmajorelle.com/. And maybe take a cooking class. I need to learn how to make that tagine myself.
Oh! And one last thing. I saw a street artist doing incredible portraits with charcoal. I almost got one done, but i ran out of time (and money). I’ll have to remember to check out local art boards next time: https://www.marrakechart.com/.
okay, i’m officially exhausted. Time for more mint tea and a nap. Marrakech, you were wild. You were wonderful. You were…a lot.