Cultural Excursion- Marrakech

My favorite excursion so far has been our trip to Marrakech.  We stayed in the Red City for two nights, and explored the old Médina.  After a nearly 5 hour bus ride, we came to the old Médina, which was filled with souks (stores), snake charmers, horse carriages, and various oddities.  Our group meals are always fun, and that night we had dinner together on a terrace overlooking the plaza.  I may or may not have spilled avocado juice all over me at that time.  The next day, we did a walking tour of Marrakech, visiting the ornate Palacia Bahia, and walking through small alleyways of the Médina.  Afterwards, we headed to the mountain town of Ourika.  We had the best meal there at a stunning hotel.  Because we were in a relatively isolated community, there was no WiFi at lunch, so we sat around communal tagines and enjoyed each other’s company.  After lunch, we went for a hike.  It was a bit more adventurous than we expected, but we got to see some great views of Ourika and the Atlas mountain range.  Later that night, we were given a lot of free time, and a group of us took a taxi to the Médina.  We bartered with vendors in Darija and Wolof, and spent a lot of money on souvenirs.  The concept of the Médina is entirely foreign in the US, and it’s something you would never find in the Western world.  Large crowds and lack of personal space are two defining factors of the Medinas in Morocco.  However, the Medina’s also hold many treasures.  Whether it be the vaguely accurate knockoff Gucci fanny packs or the pungent street food, it’s hard to compare to any shopping center in the US.  Although Marrakech was much more palatable to tourists than Rabat, the cultural component of the old Médina ties together every city in Morocco, and is integral in experiencing Moroccan culture.