In December 2023 we headed out to Marrakech for a short break. We wanted to see how the city had
recovered from the devastating earthquake that hit some areas in the city as well as the Atlas Mountain villages, just three months earlier.
Incredibly we took a flight from Manchester direct to Marrakech (taking just over 3 hours!). On arrival we had unexpected heavy rain and by the time we landed it was so dark that, as we headed into the medina of Marrakech in our private transfer, not much could be seen.
Our driver took us straight to the door of our riad — a traditional Moroccan house with an indoor garden and courtyard— which made for a quiet escape from the busy street outside. We were greeted by the owner who welcomed us with a warm bowl of homemade soup before sitting down and talking us through recommendations for the next few days of our visit.
The following morning, we awoke to silence and headed down for a breakfast of eggs, pastries, and fresh fruit. Before long it was time to leave the tranquillity of our riad to go exploring. We opened the main door and stepped straight into the hustle and bustle, the noise of the market traders, children playing, and scooters cutting through the streets. We were guided by locals to stand to the right of the street — there are no traffic lights or signs but there is a local understanding of where to walk/drive — despite the sheer number of people, we didn’t observe any bumps!
We headed for the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa market square. Daytime is certainly a quieter time of day to explore. We wandered the stalls packed with fresh fruit, street food, ceramics, and spices; before heading up to the rooftop terraces where we enjoyed traditional mint tea and fresh fruit juices. It makes for the perfect spot to look out and observe daily life. We spent an afternoon visiting the Secret Garden, despite its location in the middle of the medina, once you enter the garden it is so peaceful— a world away from the chaos that surrounds it.
Even in December, daytime temperatures are a comfortable 20 degrees.
After sunset, we headed out for dinner at a restaurant that specializes in local cuisine (on the recommendation of the riad owner). After a delicious meal, we returned to Jemaa el-Fnaa square where we couldn’t help but take a moment — wow, so many people as the smells of spices, the noise of music, and street artists filled the space.
Throughout our trip we took a morning visit to the Madrasa Ben Youssef, built in the 14th century, this madrasa was once the largest Islamic school in North Africa and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then took an afternoon excursion into the Agafay desert for sunset, an evening of local music & dancing where we were served a traditional three-course Moroccan meal.
Our final day was spent with a lovely lady, Chef Laila— known locally as Moroccan Mum. When we went to a market to purchase fresh produce, from spices and herbs to meat and vegetables, she talked us through the entire process, to be certain of the quality before we returned to her kitchen. Across the next couple of hours, she put us to work learning techniques before we sat down to enjoy what we had created.
We had a great time exploring Marrakech and the great news is it is becoming easier to reach with new routes from Jet2 and Ryanair coming this year. If you would like to know more call 01904 623444 or visit 88 Main Street, Fulford.
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