So here we are in Marrakech

Its Wednesday afternoon and Mum and I arrived in Marrakech about 5 hours ago. It's quite a culture shock, and we've already had to do battle with a most uncharming snake charmer (cobra and all).

Our riad is in the heart of the old town of Marrakech - a hair raising taxi ride through the winding alleys, narrowly avoiding shopkeepers, pedestrians and motorcyclists, but never slowing down. We had to walk the last 5 minutes to the riad, trusting a young lad who the taxi driver found to show us the way - quite an unnerving experience as all the alleys look very similar. The riad itself is a traditional building surrounding a courtyard with a palm tree growing up through the open roof. We were welcomed with a glass of mint tea up on the roof terrace, where we enjoyed the warm sun and beautiful cloudless sky, listening to the mingled sounds of the birds and the life on the streets outside.


So far we've managed to find our way to the Djemaa el-Fna, which is the main square, and after a potter around, our first purchase (almonds) and a spot of lunch (tagine) we're now heading off to the bus station to try and organise ourselves a day trip to the coast.