08 MAY 2017. PART FOUR - Jemma El Fnaa Square - MARRAKESH.MOROCCO
This is the screen shot of Marrakesh Map.It shows places we saw
till date & the ones we will see today.
To see interactive map go to https://goo.gl/fxaMBb.
How to navigate through interactive map has been explained earlier.
By the time we had finished exploring Bahia Place it was pretty late and we walked to restaurant for our lunch.
It is unfortunate that the name of the name of restaurant did not show up in any of the photos nor did I note it down any where.I wish I had done so as the restaurant décor had faithfully tried to copy Bahia Palace.See photos.
Restaurant,gate in of the dalans.
Restaurant, lamp shade and inner passage roof.
Restaurant, lamp shades and inner passage roof.
Restaurant, lamp shades and inner passage roof.
Restaurant, lamp shade and inner passage roof.
After lunch we took a leisurely walk through the narrow lanes lined by souviners, gift items ,brass lamp shades and knickknacks etc on both sides.These lanes took us to a square known as Jemma Ei Fnaa Square.
JEMMA - EL - FNAA SQUARE.
Jemma EL Fnaa Square.
Jemma El Fnaa Square is World Heritage Site. Wiki has an amazing photo of Jemma El Fnaa Square.This is was what wiki it has to say about it :
During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, water sellers with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, youths with chained Barbary apes and snake charmers despite the protected status of these species under Moroccan law.
As the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would be against custom for girls to provide such entertainment), story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks.
The square is edged along one side by the Marrakesh souk, a traditional North African market catering both for the common daily needs of the locals, and for the tourist trade. On other sides are hotels and gardens and cafe terraces, and narrow streets lead into the alleys of the medina quarter.
Once a bus station, the place was closed to vehicle traffic in the early 2000s. The authorities are well aware of its importance to the tourist trade, and a strong but discreet police presence ensures the safety of visitors.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jemaa_el-Fnaa)
After lunch we had reached around 2/3 PM, we did not see the food stalls at the height of doing brisk business nor did we see the large crowds which gather there after sunset and early night.
We loitered around for 2 to 3 hours ,waiting for the time when our coach was to pick s up from appoint near the square.on one side fairly large area was barricaded as major kind of civil work seemed to be underway.
So we did see rows and rows of stalls with furniture, and other paraphernalia of a food stall securily tied, covered under colourful waterproof plastic sheets. Froit juice and soft drink stalls were doing fair amount of business . So were the shops of traditional medicine. The hotels lining one side of the wall and the traditional bazar the otherside .
Hotels,Restaurants on one side .
Hotels,Restaurants on one side .
We did not see any snake charmers, nor story tellers,were lucky to miss the attention of pickpockets as well during our loitering. While relaxing at Le Grand Balcon du Café Glacier we did see a group of acrobats performing all over the square and also just for a minute in front of café where we were sitting.
Lanes leading to traditional Bazar.
A chemist shop in tradional Bazar.
Massive work in progress at the squqre.
Acrobats performing.
Another view of Jamma El Fnaa square.
Koutoubia Minara in background.
Another view of Jamma El Fnaa square.
Koutoubia Minara in background.
As the time to rendezvous with our coach was approaching, we gradually started walking towards the rendezvous point.On the way we saw a neat & clean building proudly flying Moroccan National Flag. It was a Marrakesh branch Post Office. Wondered why all our Government Offices do not fly our National Flag. Are we not proud of our country?
Jemma El Fnaa branch of Marrakech Posy office.
Near our RV point long row of Victorias.
The coach arrived at appointed time . We boarded it and were on our way to Casablanca, second city to be visited in Morocco. A distance of 240 KMs(149 Miles).
On the way again passed near Jardin Sidi Hmed El Kamel or Zaharada Park from where we had gone to see the Bahia Palace.
Once out of the city saw lots of date plam plantations, Olive plantations. Was
intrigued by large cactus plantations. My curiosity was satisfied by the local guide travelling with us . Apparently cactus fruits are sweet and very tasty. Very popular amongst the public.Hence the plantations.
Jardin Sidi Hmed El Kamel OR Zaharada Park.
Date Palm Plantation.
Cactus Plantations.
Cactus Plantations.
A Train to Marrakesh.
Around Halfway to Casablanca we had taken Coffee and Tea break.At a now familiar, service point along the highways at Gas Station, Afriquia Station Chouia. Saw that Restraurant was preparing and gearing up dinner time ,which would be coming up shortly.Pleanty of chicken dishes all ready in Tagine(Eartehn Cooking Pot) to be placed on oven an interesting sight.
In tagine , chicken dish ready for coooked.
After the break started for Casablanca by about 1945 hours . By the time reahed Hotel Les Almohades Casablanca and checked in it was too late to do any thing .Not even a short photo session . Just went to sleep.
To see all the photos of Day 2 ,8 May 2017 go here.
(Photos .https://goo.gl/photos/kHPoGDx
END DAY TWO.
