I’m sitting in my tiny room at a cheap riad in the Medina of Marrakesh, after my first encounter with Djamaa el Fna Square – it was exactly as I expected it, but bigger and louder and if I had to find two words to describe it I would use the same ones I used back when I got lost in Tokyo… a “screaming monster”… Honestly? I hated it at first sight and wanted to get out of there asap. And I did.
The reception guy at my riad
But I think I am too tired to really appreciate anything, I woke up at 5am after zero sleep, and reached my riad around 9pm. Two flights, two trains and a taxi later, I am exhausted. Plus, it’s hot! In the train I was stunned by the heat and kept falling asleep, just to wake up at someone hitting me (it was super crowded) or various drama such as a guy who pulled the emergency brake and the whole train started yelling at him and running after him. In the end he jumped off the train but someone jumped after him and took him back so he paid a fine. FINE, but can we start moving now?!
The train was 1 hour late, I felt at home. Except that train stations here look better than in Italy!
My plan for tomorrow is to go to a hammam and relax with a scrub and a massage, because I am a bit tense at the moment. This place is really crowded and loud, ok I am used to Cairo so it’s not that bad for me, but it’s not fun on my own. Hopefully I will meet someone at the hostel where I plan to move.
What I really like is the architecture here. It’s so photogenic and even the simplest riad is so beautiful and cozy.
Something tells me I’m in Morocco…
If I keep feeling uncomfortable here, I will leave on the following day to either Fez or Essaouira… I will see. Now I just need a good sleep… Good night world! *looks for earplugs*
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10 Comments
I would recommend you to go to Essaouira. It’s much easier to reach than Fez and it’s a small city with a wonderful medina. It’s a good place to escape from the crowd of Marrakesh. BTW, I also hated Djamaa el Fna in my first day, but I got used to that madness and now I miss it. =)
Unfortunately I won’t make it to Essaouira this time around, but hopefully Fez and Chefchaouen will do. :)
I don’t know, if I envy you or feel for you! However, yes, I want to come back to Marrakech for all those photo motives with the palaces and the different mosques etc. However walking through the Medina itself is a treat, if you are not in a hectic, not wanting to buy anyting …:) enjoy!!
Good luck Giulia! You’ll start enjoying it once you are less over whelmed with that exhaustion! Something tells me you will :)
Good luck! Things will be different after a good night sleep. I know exactly how you feel.
i love Morocco… if only you could get the smells in the photo too…
so sad that you can’t enjoy Morocco, Morocco is actually very nice place with very good food.
It went better on the following days!
[…] I arrived to Morocco the other day, I wrote a short post about my first impressions (not great). Little did I know that the worst part still had to come – the “good night […]
I´ve always loved Morocco although I´ve never been..To me it is a perfect combination of adventure and culture. And just recently, I´ve learned about what I think is the most beautiful city you can possibly visit when in Morocco — Chefchaouen. Way more beautiful (not to mention peaceful) than Jodhpur in India, in my opinion! Went straight to the top of my bucket list.