Morocco
My mom was there for an art program, so I figured why not join from Barcelona for a couple days? Only two days in Morocco? Are you crazy? Basically, yes, yes I am. But hey, it was totally worth it. Here’s why.
Getting in
Skip Casablanca. I’ll start off by saying that. Go straight to Marrakech. You’ll be welcomed into this city with one of the most beautiful airports in the world, architecturally speaking. I was honestly stunned by its beauty, even for a developed country. Getting from the airport to the city by taxi is the way to do it, but you have to be strong in your bartering. They’re first price will be about 50% over the price you should pay, so keep that in mind. Honestly, the taxi drivers suck. They’re thieves with cars. But frankly, you don’t have any other choice. Getting around by taxi is really the only option, otherwise its a chaotic shit show.
Where to stay
Ideally, stay in the middle of the Old Town in a local, traditional hotel. We went with the Le Meridien because we could use points, and it was honestly just fine. The rooms were a bit outdated, as was the hotel in general, but it had all the amenities you could ask for and was across the street from a nice mall with quite a few restaurants (including some American places). The Le Meridien had fantastic service, so that was definitely a huge plus. Everyone along the way was very helpful, informative and cheerful. In terms of amenities, the hotel had a nice gym, pool, beautiful grounds, tennis courts, and several bars and dining options. It’s definitely a mid-range destination hotel, and is about a 25 minute walk from the main attractions of Marrakech.
Where to have a trendy lunch overlooking Old Town: Nomad
This brand seems to just have their shit down. WIth locations all around the world (LA, NY, Miami, etc.), Nomad exudes an aura of trendiness that almost no other brand can compete with. With great food, drinks and views, Nomad is a must when visiting the Medina of Marrakech.
Where to have a traditional dinner overlooking beautiful dancers:
This place is wild. Honestly, my mom decided to go here after getting a recommendation from a friend, and I had no idea what to expect. I’ll tell you this-I did not expect dozens of belly dancers, acrobats and singers to take over the restaurant at the top of the hour! It’s a wild, entertaining as hell, and not to mention, a fantastic place for traditional food as well. The area around this iconic restaurant has lots of other fun bars and restaurants as well, but be sure to make a reservation if you want a spot at this place.
Where to see the work and life of a fashion icon: Yves Saint Laurent Museum and Jardin Majorelle
Yes Saint Laurent LOVED Marrakech. He was inspired by the colors, traditional patterns, and the overall aesthetic of this beautiful city. You can see how this inspiration because one of the most well known clothing brands in the world at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Then take a stroll through the beautiful nearby gardens for some zen in a chaotic city.
Where to see some beautiful tombs of ancient kings: Saadien Tombs
It won’t take your breath away, but its beautiful. The blue and white tiled room that houses the tomb of many great Moorish kings is stunning, and the ancient grounds juxtaposed by the bright orange trees make for a beautiful visual setting as well.
Where to walk the same grounds as the kings: El Badi Palace
I loved this place. It’s scale is incredible, especially in the Medina which is about as dense as it gets. Stroll around the grounds, walk into the rooms on the perimeter to learn a thing or two, then walk upstairs to the rooftop and take it all in, as well as the city of Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains in the distance.
Where to get overwhelmed as fu*k: Jemaa el-Fnaa
I almost would say don’t go here. It’s nuts. It’s absolutely nuts. It’s the heartbeat of the city, and in it you’ll find snakes, monkeys, dancers, exotic food, desperate vendors, and just about everything in between. And everyone wants money, which gets seriously annoying. Stay strong, don’t respond to anyone, and if someone puts a monkey on your back, just push it off and say no. It happened to me and the monkey is doing just fine, so don’t worry. There are several rooftop bars lining this hectic square, so definitely find your recluse with a Moroccan Mint Tea overlooking the chaos below.
Where to hike mountains and dine riverside: There are toms of tour options that take you to the Atlas Mountains and I HIGHLY recommend doing this as a day trip! You get to see the traditional Berber lifestyle, as well as have some adventure in nature away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.