Day 238: Africa for the first time.
Date: 27 April 2009
Due to the heavy drinking last night and the lack of sleep, I was very tired. I dragged myself up from bed in the wee hours and took a bus down to town. It will take 2 different buses before I get to the Victoria Station where I will have to take a airport bus. However, the 2nd bus came late and I ended up taking cab in order to be in time for my airport bus. It was so expensive to take cab in London.
The flight was alright and within a few hours, I arrived at Morocco, Africa!
I learnt that it was almost impossible to get Moroccan Dirham (Morocco currency) other than in Morocco and so the first thing I did when I got to the airport was to look for a money changer. Not too difficult, there were a handful of them.
However, I faced another problem. You see, there were 2 different kinds of british pound. One print by England, the other printed by the Bank of Scotland. Both were being recognised in UK but the main problem here is that the people here had never seen a british pound printed by the bank of scotland and I so happen to have lots of them as I was in Scotland not too long ago. I got a bit upset when noone takes my Scottish pounds. I cant really remember what happen in the end but I managed to get hold of euros or USD and then I used that to get Moroccan Dirham.
From the airport, I took a bus to the old town of Marrakesh and in the bus, I met an Austrian Guy. I asked if he wants to share a room to cut cost and he agreed.
After dropping our bags in room, we went out to explore the old town, Djemaa el Fna.
Check out this video.
Having tea by the road side. They love Mint tea and I love mint. GREAT FOR ME!! but it was alittle too sweet.
Then it was Cous Cous for lunch.
Morocco used to be ruled by the French and so there is a strong French influence.
Like I said, I was lacking of sleep and so I went back to my room to sleep through the whole afternoon and only went back out again at night to explore the world famous night of Dejemma El-Fna.
Djemaa el Fna (Arabic: جامع الفناء jâmiʻ al-fanâʼ) is a square and market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter (old city). The origin of its name remains unknown: it means Assembly of the dead in Arabic, but as the word djemaa also means mosque in Arabic, it could also mean Place of the Vanished Mosque, in reference to a destroyed Almoravid mosque, or it could mean The Mosque of Eternity or The Mosque of Anihilation or perhaps The Mosque at the End of the World.
The place remains the main square of Marrakesh, used equally by locals and tourists. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. As the day progresses the entertainments on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and evening the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such an entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.
The square is edged along one side by the Marrakesh souk, the traditional North African markets which service both the common daily needs of the people of the city, and the tourist trade. On other sides are cafe terraces to escape from the noise and confusion down in the square, and on yet other sides are hotels and gardens. Narrow streets lead into the alleys of the medina quarter, the old city.
Once a bus station, the place was closed to traffic in the early 2000s. The authorities are well aware of its importance to the tourist trade, and a strong but discreet police presence ensures the safety of visitors.
This place is so lively. I will explore more of it tomorrow. As for now, it a dark walk back to my acommodation.
*Click HERE to return to the Main Page of The Cold Journey.*
Due to the heavy drinking last night and the lack of sleep, I was very tired. I dragged myself up from bed in the wee hours and took a bus down to town. It will take 2 different buses before I get to the Victoria Station where I will have to take a airport bus. However, the 2nd bus came late and I ended up taking cab in order to be in time for my airport bus. It was so expensive to take cab in London.
The flight was alright and within a few hours, I arrived at Morocco, Africa!
I learnt that it was almost impossible to get Moroccan Dirham (Morocco currency) other than in Morocco and so the first thing I did when I got to the airport was to look for a money changer. Not too difficult, there were a handful of them.
However, I faced another problem. You see, there were 2 different kinds of british pound. One print by England, the other printed by the Bank of Scotland. Both were being recognised in UK but the main problem here is that the people here had never seen a british pound printed by the bank of scotland and I so happen to have lots of them as I was in Scotland not too long ago. I got a bit upset when noone takes my Scottish pounds. I cant really remember what happen in the end but I managed to get hold of euros or USD and then I used that to get Moroccan Dirham.
From the airport, I took a bus to the old town of Marrakesh and in the bus, I met an Austrian Guy. I asked if he wants to share a room to cut cost and he agreed.
After dropping our bags in room, we went out to explore the old town, Djemaa el Fna.
Check out this video.
Having tea by the road side. They love Mint tea and I love mint. GREAT FOR ME!! but it was alittle too sweet.
Then it was Cous Cous for lunch.
Morocco used to be ruled by the French and so there is a strong French influence.
Like I said, I was lacking of sleep and so I went back to my room to sleep through the whole afternoon and only went back out again at night to explore the world famous night of Dejemma El-Fna.
Djemaa el Fna (Arabic: جامع الفناء jâmiʻ al-fanâʼ) is a square and market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter (old city). The origin of its name remains unknown: it means Assembly of the dead in Arabic, but as the word djemaa also means mosque in Arabic, it could also mean Place of the Vanished Mosque, in reference to a destroyed Almoravid mosque, or it could mean The Mosque of Eternity or The Mosque of Anihilation or perhaps The Mosque at the End of the World.
The place remains the main square of Marrakesh, used equally by locals and tourists. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists. As the day progresses the entertainments on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and evening the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such an entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.
The square is edged along one side by the Marrakesh souk, the traditional North African markets which service both the common daily needs of the people of the city, and the tourist trade. On other sides are cafe terraces to escape from the noise and confusion down in the square, and on yet other sides are hotels and gardens. Narrow streets lead into the alleys of the medina quarter, the old city.
Once a bus station, the place was closed to traffic in the early 2000s. The authorities are well aware of its importance to the tourist trade, and a strong but discreet police presence ensures the safety of visitors.
This place is so lively. I will explore more of it tomorrow. As for now, it a dark walk back to my acommodation.
*Click HERE to return to the Main Page of The Cold Journey.*
posted by ZeeVinCeZ at 2:52 PM
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