We quickly found a pattern for our days in Marrakech –
Mornings – exploring the Souk with the kids
Heading out to Explore
Inside Souk
Tangine Pots
Sweets Stall
Lantern Shop
Pottery Shop
Raffia Products
We did do a little shopping while we were out exploring. We found some fun serving dishes at this stall. It was a pretty pleasant experience . . of course, Chris was doing the haggling.
Pottery Stall
We did make it back to the Square in search of the snake charmers, but we were highly disappointed.
Hannah Holding Snake
Emma kept whispering in my ear that the man was luring people in with corn snakes, perfectly harmless. They put them around the kids’ necks and encouraged us to take pictures.
Emma Posing with Snake
The poor snake’s tail looked like it was falling off and the snake was pretty motionless. We actually asked the man if the snake was dead. He put it on the ground and poked at it to prove it wasn’t.
Cami with Snake
Then the man took us over to a blanket area where there was a viper and cobra. Emma kept whispering to me about how their poison glands are removed and they weren’t dangerous. They looked pretty menacing – I wasn’t going to test that theory.
When we were done ‘looking’ at the snakes, the man put out his hat and told us how much we owed – for looking at the snakes and then letting the kids ‘hold’ them. We gave him a little bit (not nearly as much as he wanted) and walked on. It is people like that that ruin the experience.
Of course, we walked away from one experience into another as a woman grabbed us to show us her henna work. We had been contemplating it anyway or otherwise we wouldn’t have been such docile customers. We made sure to settle on a price before she started.
Girls Getting Henna
Before we were done with this experience, the woman grabbed Emma’s hand (who did not want to have it done) and started doing hers, asking for more money as she went. We stuck with our original price . . .
Henna Hands
After Henna was Dry
The boys didn’t walk away empty handed either – matching Barcelona jersey sets. They were happy campers.
Caleb & Dallin
One morning we were pulled into the dye souk. Of course, it started out with a display how they dye the wool and silk.
Dye Souk
Dyed Green Hands
But, of course, you couldn’t leave without buying something.
Drying in the Sun
Afternoons – Resting in the Riad
Our afternoons were spent enjoying the shade of the riad, the cool A/C in our rooms, and just resting.
Uno Games
Swimming in the Pool
Electronics Zone
Evenings – Chris, Shannon, and I would head back out to shop, while Scott volunteered for ‘kid duty’
We went back to this lamp stall (felt like Aladdin’s Cave) at least 3 times. The guy remembered us each time. During our last visit, he said Chris and Shannon were a hard team to haggle with (I was just the passive bystander).
Shannon Lantern Shopping
Chris Lantern Shopping
We all agreed that the timing was perfect. We did everything that we had wanted to do with time to spare. We were starting to miss London’s wet and cool summer as well as clean drinking water, milk, cereal, pizza, etc.
Heading Out of the Souk for the Last Time
We had such a great time with the Ashton’s and were so grateful they still liked us when the trip was over, having spent over a week with us. Honestly, we spent the last couple days trying to determine where our next joint adventure would be. That is still undetermined, but it will happen!
And, yes, London’s weather was a very welcome change to the heat of Morocco. We also enjoyed our ‘welcome home’ pizza immensely!
It’s fun to re-live the trip by looking at your blog – great pictures and prose. Miss you guys!
Becca, what an absolutely amazing trip! I’m living vicariously through you! Amazing photos, especially of the parts in the Sahara!