I promise that photos will follow there is just too much to document to wait until I get back.
Brandon and I went trekking today - kind of - by accident. We left the hostel and tried to find these 2 museums that we wanted to see. Our hostel is near the Souks - the marketplace made up of winding alleys, the map made it look like we needed to walk one way so we did. WRONG. we got to see the real Marrakech this morning. We stopped some French people to ask if they knew how to get there, they didn't, we asked a shop keeper and he didn't, we got stopped by a man on the streets who spoke about 4 different languages and he offered to have US take HIM to lunch and he would tell us where to go. When we refused he kindly told us that we weren't anywhere close. So, we went back to the square, had a snack and ventured out.
Let me tell you, guide books are fantastic most of the time. Apparently not the one I have. It told us to take the #1 bus to get to "La Palmerie," Well folks, it doesn't go that far. We got the end of the line and the driver felt bad for us so he pointed us in the direction of "le Jardin Marjorelle." It was well worth it. It is a stunning botanical garden with bamboo and palm tress, foutains, little ponds and tres jolie flowers.
After purusing the garden, we decided to walk to "la palmerie" becuase according to my guide book there were supposed to be camel rides there. WRONG. Perhaps during high tourist seasonm but certainly not now. We were a good 2 miles away from the tourist part of town. We finally came accross a taxi stand and paid a little extra to get the taxi to take us back to town. We finally found the museums that we had originally been looking for.
It's super hard reading signs in the museums in French, but everything was great to look at! We had dinner at on of the pop up restaurants and and now just taking a break until we go out exploring once again this evening.
A few side notes...
1. I'm not kidding when i say the streets in the souk are windy. Here are the directions we used to get to our hostel....
DIRECTIONS: From Djemaa el-Fnaa: The easiest way to get to the hostel is from the famous Djemaa el-Fnaa square. Ask your cab driver to leave you at what is popularly known as "Café Argana" although the canopy reads "Restaurant Argana". The name "Argana" is written in large letters on the roof of the premises. If you arrive by bus, or the square is closed to cars, look for this cafe, or ask someone to show you the way to it. It's located on one of the corners of the square. Facing the cafe, take the street immediately to the left. Very soon you will get to an open space. Cross this taking the street on your left under the archway. Pass through the arch and you'll be in Mouassine street. This is a fairly wide street (for the Medina standards), with shops left and right. Walk straight down this street. Soon on your right you'll see a small corner shop called 'Fnaque Berber' followed by another arch, walk directly through it. After approximately 100 meters you'll get to a small open space (or a place where the street widens), once you enter this area you will find a small arch behind and to your right. This is a slight u-turn but do not worry as our street starts there! You can read its name at the top of the arch: 'Derb Laghnaiz Lamouassine'. Pass through the arch and walk down three steps. You're almost there. This street has no shops and in most parts is roofed. Walk and don't leave the wall on your left. After 50-60 meters of walking down this winding street, you'll find a door with our name on it: 'Equity Point'. Welcome!!
2. While walking past a shop a man came up behind us and said "want to come in the back, and smoke. Hashish?" Totaly un-pc but this man resembled and sounded like Jafar from Aladin.
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