Djemaa el Fna (جامع الفناء) is a square and market place in Marrakesh's Medina quarter (old city). The square is edged along on one side by the Marrakech souk, which is subdivided into specialised 'quarters'. The bits closest to the square are more popular with general tourists and this is where you can find shops selling a whole heap of non-essential (read: useless) items such as canary-yellow slippers (babouches), giant brass platters and colourful lanterns.
It is a busy place. During the day, you will see water sellers in costumes, snake charmers, story-tellers, magicians, dancers and lots of tourists. As it gets dark, local people start to turn up for the dozens of food-stalls. More on that in a later post.
It is a busy place. During the day, you will see water sellers in costumes, snake charmers, story-tellers, magicians, dancers and lots of tourists. As it gets dark, local people start to turn up for the dozens of food-stalls. More on that in a later post.
On our way to the square...
We were obviously tourists. So, we were constantly bothered by the people. This snake charmer came around, put a snake around my neck and then said he wants €10. We gave him some coins. These people are just plain greedy. So beware!
SP took this photo while the accomplices of the snake charmers were bothering other tourists
Parts of the square has turned into fun fair stalls! The idea is that if you can 'loop' the soft drink bottle towards you, then the bottle becomes yours. No easy.
The shops lining the edge of the square are definitely touristy. They will try anything to get you into the store
I saw a fair few tourists dragging lanterns around the square. I am not quite sure how they were planning to bring these back home. They are very fragile and some of them are quite big!
These key rings are much more portable, but then, it's useless.
Then, there are the ceramics. The local style is plain terracotta glazed in bright colours. I fear that the ceramics that they are selling here are more for decorative purpose only.
Down one of the 'street' in the souk
Carpets and leatherware.
Colourful slippers and shoes
A nice arch in the background
A vendor selling paintings. You have to be very careful when buying paintings, as some of them are printed
2 comments:
Ms K, is it cold in Morocco? You're wearing your red jacket!
Ms L, it was quite cold in Marrakech and it was freezing in the desert!
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