November 9, 2022 – Let‘s Go!

Remember the saying: „God punishes small sins immediately”? Or do you remember images of Zeus throwing lightnings down to earth to punish any kind of wrongdoing? Well, here we are in Marrakesh, where any form of PDA (public display of affection) should be avoided, but Ted and I can’t help it: yesterday evening, just as we were about to sit down for dinner at our small courtyard in our Riad, where 6 other people, all Germans, were present, we kissed. Actually we tried to kiss to be precise, because when I stretched up to reach Ted, I took a little step backwards. Allah saw that and – similar to God or Zeus – he sent me down into the ditch = the flowerbed. I hadn’t seen this 1” step, I fell backwards and landed hard. Ouch!

But I survived. With some dirt on my clothes and a big fat dumpling-sized bruise on my butt. 🥴

Despite all this, we had a fabulous dinner and – thanks to Yanit, the chef – all of us ended up around one table where he demonstrated how you can proof if Safran is the real deal or dyed corn hair. We sat and talked and had a good time!

Appendix #1: out of those 6 people, 2 were from Austria

Appendix #2: my knee is ok!

Appendix #3: Safran Test: put 1-2 Safran strings in a glass of water and stir it. Real Safran turns the water yellow. Corn hair doesn’t 🧐

Our Riad is only 5 minutes away from Jemaa El Fna, the marketplace at the entrance to the Souks, which is the Moroccan equivalent to the American shopping mall, but totally different! There are hundreds of those tiny hole-in-the-wall stores without a name, that sell lamps, shoes, kaftans, dead chicken or laundry detergent that is filled in 1.5 liter water bottles. But not enough, you can also have your moped fixed, you can get a massage, a bathtub or a haircut. And that last thing we started the day with: a haircut for Ted

At the Souks there are many spice stores, that sell tea, frankincense and spices, there are textile-, leather-, wood- or metal workshops, but we haven’t seen a single bookstore!

And then there was this guy who did a great job dragging us to the tanneries, where the berbers from the mountains bring the camel leather for tanning. Of course they only come once a week and today is the day: Berber-camel-leather-tanning-day! We got a bunch of mint to hold under our nose and – YES – I needed that! It was very interesting and extremely stinky…

We were glad to be back in the souks, we ate at a vegan storytelling cafe, where we got lunch, but no stories, and afterwards we happened to find the „Secret Garden“, a wonderful oasis in the middle of chaotic Marrakesch.

This secret garden, „Le Jardin Secret“ is the most ancient riad in Marrakesch, beautifully restored over many years and a tranquil place to relax. And we needed a break anyway; walking around the Medina the whole day is an overload to the senses, not only the smell! The noise, the colors, everything!