Marrakesh: Dust, Mint Tea, and a Seriously Weird Pigeon Situation
okay, so. marrakesh. where do i even begin? i’m your friendly neighborhood touring session drummer, and usually, i’m hauling gear across continents for some band or another. this time? i just needed… something different. a break from the relentless thump-thump-thump of stadium lights and screaming crowds. and marrakesh delivered. in spades. mostly dust and mint tea, but definitely spades.
i just checked and it's… a sort of damp chill in the air right now. like the desert’s holding its breath. not exactly beach weather, but honestly, the heat would have melted my drumsticks. i’m staying in the medina, which is… an experience. narrow alleyways, donkeys pulling carts, the constant scent of spices and something vaguely… animal. it’s intense. i found a riad - r’madia, i think it was called - through TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294229-Marrakesh_Marrakech-Vacations.html) - and it’s a little oasis of calm. tiled courtyard, orange trees, the works.
and the pigeons. oh god, the pigeons. they’re everywhere. not your cute, city-park pigeons. these are… aggressive. like, they’ll stare you down. i swear one of them tried to steal my mint tea. i’m not even kidding.
“Don’t make eye contact with the pigeons,” a guy slurring his words told me at a cafe. “They know. They always know.”
seriously. i’m starting to think they’re running the place.
food-wise? incredible. tagine, couscous, pastries dripping in honey… i’m pretty sure i gained five pounds just looking at them. i found this amazing little place on Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Moroccan+food&find_loc=Marrakesh,+Marrakech,+Morocco) - Dar Yacout, i think - and it was worth every dirham. the rooftop view alone was worth it.
“The lamb tagine is the only thing keeping this city from collapsing into dust,” a local warned me, while simultaneously trying to sell me a rug.
and the shopping! souks stretching as far as the eye can see. leather goods, spices, carpets, jewelry… it’s sensory overload. haggling is essential, obviously. i managed to snag a beautiful leather journal for a surprisingly reasonable price. i’m documenting everything, obviously. gotta keep the blog alive, right? check out some local artisan boards for inspiration (https://www.marrakechartisans.com/).
if you get bored, essaouira and agadir are just a short drive away. i’m thinking of taking a day trip to essaouira - heard it’s got a great beach and a more relaxed vibe.
“Just… watch your pockets,” someone muttered to me while i was admiring a pile of spices. “The shadows move fast here.”
okay, that was a little ominous. but hey, adds to the charm, right? i’m also checking out some local music venues - hoping to find some gnawa music. apparently, it’s huge here. i’m always looking for new rhythms to incorporate into my playing. i’m thinking of hitting up a few spots listed on this local events board (https://www.visitmarrakech.com/en/events/).
overall? marrakesh is… chaotic. overwhelming. beautiful. dusty. pigeon-infested. and utterly unforgettable. i’d recommend it. just… watch out for the pigeons.
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