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Friday 12 September, Dar si Saïd museum, the Medina

Marrakech - part VI

Elisabeth & Teije
2006-07-19 19:12:07

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a coffee combined with a soft drink tastes much better. After that first combination we order just one drink at a time.
This time no low-flying storks over Café Palais el-Badi and the streets are quiet since it is the day of prayers for the muslims. Most shops are closing now, although they were all open in the morning when we walked through the souks. To the right a view inside the restaurant where we are sitting.

The museum includes pottery, jewellery, leatherwork and carpets but the main attraction is the wood carving. From different time periods whole decorated gates have been put here on display. The patio's are, like in other palaces and gardens, oasisses of coolness and rest. Throughout the building we see domes and arches, curved forms, one of the characteristics of islamic architecture that we like so much.

We walk back to Jemaa el Fna and most shops in the souks are closed by now. But we don't notice any more activity near the mosques than on the last days.

We take our place on one of the roof garden terraces where everyone knows by now that we are regulars. But within half an hour a sandstorm suddenly breaks out and we have to flee inside. The sky is turning red and our eyes are sour from the all-penetrating grains of sand.

When the storm has died down a bit we take a cab back to the hotel and have a rest. After sunset (around 7) our normal evening routine starts again: walking to the first bar, have a drink, then have dinner (or just a drink) at Charly's and afterwards we move between several restaurants and bars to have different views on the road and the people. We call it here a routine, but these hours at night have never been boring, not for a moment.

Sitting outside at one bar we saw something remarkable tonight: a man orders a cup of coffee but he leaves before finishing it. Ten minutes later a passer-by, very well dressed, sees the glass with coffee in it, looks around and then slowly drinks the remainder of the coffee. Then he quietly walks on. Later that night, when we pass other bars, I look for half empty glasses of beer, but I don't find them.