Our trip to Marrakech, Morocco Day 1

Last time we went aboard was over a year ago, July 2022, our honeymoon to Venice, Italy. 

We decided we both need a break. A break from work, from the grey and gloomy London to Marrakech, a frenetic red city that is rich in aromatic smell and mixed of tradition yet modernity. 

Since its the early flight from London Gatwick to Marrakech, we booked the airport parking via purple parking 3 weeks before our flights in advance. On that morning (19th Sep2023), we left home early as we were worried there might be traffic on the way or the waiting for the shuttle bus would be long. Surprisingly, it all went smoothly. The drop off service was very smooth, we just park our car and left the car keys with them. They would park the car for you. And the shuttle buses come every 20 minus. By the time we dropped off our keys, the bus was already waiting outside the reception. The journey from the parking to the airport terminal was quick as well, and that gave us more time to go through check-in and customs. 

上一次我地出外去旅行已經有一年多，係去意大利威尼斯度蜜月。今次我們決定真係要好好放假休息，遠離繁忙倫敦來到另一個繁忙紅城，馬拉喀什（摩洛哥一個城市）

因為上機當日是在早上8點，而機場距離住家大約2小時半（如行車順暢）。所以三個星期前，我地已經提早預訂機場附近其中一個停車場，叫purple parking。當日早上因擔心交通阻塞和等待接駁巴士時間長，在早上3點已離開家前往機場停車場。幸好，當日一切都很順利。機場泊車服務很好同好快，只要泊好車，交低車鑰匙，回倫敦日期同時間就完成。當完成登記，機場接駁巴士已經等待在外。由停車場到機場都好快，所以我地有足夠時間在機場過關同休息。 

(Menara airport; very spacious and modern)

The customs at Menara airport went pretty fast, within 10mins and our passport got stamped. Taxis, car rentals, money exchange are all outside after customs. We exchanged some local money (Moroccan Dirham) and bought a prepaid sim card in the arrivals hall. 

馬拉喀什機場過關都好快，可能唔係假期時間，人不多。10分鐘以內已完成過關。租的士，巴士同換錢服務站都係過關之後先有。過左關之後，我地換左當地錢幣同埋買左一張電話卡。

The taxidriver arranged by the Riad already waited outside the airport for us. It took us about 15 minutes back to the Riad. And this 15 minutes journey made me see the busy sides of Medina. From wider road to different side streets, from well-behaved drivers to crazy ones that not following sides, from seeing lots of palm trees passed by to seeing different market stalls and donkeys, speedy motorbikes everywhere. Interesting but found it quite dangerous that the taxi driver could passed all those alleys. Surprisingly, local citizens seem not so care about frying motorbikes, cars and donkey carts. Guess they are just used to it. 

酒店安排的士司機已在機場外等候，由機場回到酒店大約15分鐘。係返酒店途中，可以比我見到繁忙既馬拉喀什。機場外既路係好闊，好多棕櫚樹，車輛都好守規矩，但好快就變左啦。道路變得狹窄，見到好多唔同市雜攤位，驢車，最危險係周圍都係單車同電單車亂駛，而當地人民一樣就行，可能係佢地既文化但我坐係的士入面就覺得好危險。

In the taxi can see stalls and people everywhere
係的士內見到周圍都好多地攤同市雜

Tips: The Riad charged us £15 for the taxi pickup from the airport. If book it via booking.com in advance, could be cheaper (but we didn't know until the last day)

提士：酒店charged左我地 £15的士錢由機場接我地。如果我地由係網上booking.com 預定會仲平D，不過我地當日唔知，最後哥日定的士返機場先發現。

Side street outside the Riad 酒店外既小巷

Riads are traditional moroccan homes that located within the Medina. There are lots of riads throughout Marrakech for every budget, from £25 per night to over £100 per night. The one we picked is located in the heart of Medina, Riad Bab Lakhmiss, with less than 15 minutes walk from the Jemaa El Fnaa, the Marrakech main square. 

酒店係傳統摩洛哥屋改做。衣種酒店係摩洛哥馬拉喀什度度都有，價錢有貴有平取決於你自己預算。我地選擇既係一間係Medina市中心，距離Jemaa El Fnaa （德吉瑪廣場）不遠，大約15分鐘路程。

The Riad has two floors, the ground floor has a central patio, some dinning tables, a small pool and a kitchen for stuffs; 1st floor is guest rooms and top floor is the rooftop. The room has air-condition, private bathroom with shower. And it was quite cute they shaped the towels into loving swans on our bed, make it looks like a honeymoon suite. 

酒店有2層，地下有廚房，食飯休閒地方，一個小池。第1層係客房，頂層係天台。天台有一個bar 枱，3張沙灘椅同3張餐桌。房間都很清潔，有冷氣機同附淋浴浴室。床上佢地用毛巾整左心形天鵝，搞到好似蜜月套房咁都幾得意。

After we unloaded our stuffs, we decided to try our lunch in the Riad. There is no room service, no food allowed in the room. Guests have to eat in the dinning area. We picked chicken tagine from the menu to share. I couldn't wait to try to traditional morocco tagine, as I have seen it multiple times on TV cooking shows. But it let me down. A small tagine cost €12 with only two small pieces of chicken drumsticks and its with fries on top!! And we were served two glasses of orange juice, which we did not order. Then we were served morocco tea after lunch, again we did not order. God knows how much they would charge us for it when we checked out.

因為岩岩到步，中午時間又過，我地放好行李之後，決定係酒店食中午。酒店係冇客房服務，客房內都唔可以食野。住客要係樓下食野。我地就坐酒店MENU選左摩洛哥炖雞。睇電視就睇得多，所以真係好有興趣試下係咩味。但係真係失望。一個咁細份既炖雞仲係得個2個細雞腿要€12， 仲要有薯條係面。衣個唔係傳統摩洛哥菜！我地都冇叫橙汁同茶但佢地又比埋我地，都唔知到時走要比幾多錢。搞錯！

To be honest, we did not make any plans for our days in Marrakech beforehand. We want to take it easy, just get lost and wandering around. And it is the best way to try get a feel for this old city. Because you will find yourself somehow ending up in some beautiful alleys with little shops, food stalls, handmade crafts and more. 

講真我地今次黎摩洛哥係冇事先計劃行程，一黎岩岩地震完，二黎係想周圍慢慢行遊覽下人地當地文化。而係摩洛哥周圍行，周圍碰下迷下路反而會見到更多野，行行下可能會唔知入左D 咩小街窄巷，入面又擺左唔同即地攤，當地小食，手制品同香料。

Stalls, motorbikes and donkey carts everywhere outside our Riad area

A stall selling claypots that used for Tagines

Get lost in Medina

It is common to be offered directions by the locals in Medina, especially from young boys. They will approach you and tell you that they could guide you wherever you want to go. Obviously they will ask for tips once they brought you to your destination. And they won't leave you until you paid. We have seen a foreigner was surrounded by a group of young boys asking for tips. Those local boys also love to show tourists the wrong directions. In this case, we just ignored and walked pass them. In situations where you actually need help with direction, It is best to ask help from someone inside a shop or from a police. 

係摩洛哥遊客比當地人指路係好平常，特別係比D 年青人。佢地會走埋黎同你講可以帶你去你想去既地點。帶左你去之後當然要比tips。你唔比佢地係唔會走。我地有見過一個外國旅客比一班年青人圍住問攞錢。當地年青人都好中意亂咁話你行錯路，只要唔好理佢地照行就冇事，佢地唔會跟住你。同埋如果真係遇到唔識路，最好就問店鋪既人或警察。

Jemaa El Fnaa - During the day 

During the day, Jemaa el-Fnaa is a lively market. You will find numerous stalls selling a wide variety of goods, including traditional Moroccan crafts, clothings, spices, jewellery and many more. It is a great place to shop for souvenirs and immerse yourself in the local culture. 

白天既德吉瑪廣場都好熱鬧，有不少地攤包括當地手制品，衣服，香料，首飾裝飾等。係一個買手信既好地方。

Rooftop bars and restaurants in Jemaa el-Fnaa

Horse carriages near for tourists outside the Koutoubia Mosque

While Jemaa El Fnaa is known for its evening entertainments and street food, you can still find some street performers during the day, such as snake charmers, monkey wranglers, acrobats and henna-tattoo artists. Along with numerous of food stalls, spices and herbal vendors and fresh fruit juice stalls setup in the square. 

德吉瑪廣場出名係晚上表演同街頭美食，但係都會見到有弄蛇表演，猴子表演，奏樂同紋手圖。仲有好多鮮榨果汁攤比你選擇解渴。

Tips: be aware not to let the street performers know that you are taking photos of them, including the snake charmer, otherwise, expect to be asked for a tip even if they do not mention it before you take the photo. 

提士：如果想影弄蛇同猴子表演，要比費用。影哥時佢地當然唔會同你講會收錢，影完先會哦。

Its full of food options in Medina, but we wanted something light for Day 1 in Medina, especially I was really sick the night before and in the morning (Long story!). So dinner we had Grilled chicken burger with fries for Mr. Z and Moroccan salad for myself at the outdoor cafe. Total £6 including drinks. Very cheap. 

需然有好多食物既選擇，但當晚我地想輕食D，特別係我前一晚同上機當日都病。所以我地去左都一間露天CAFE食飯。當晚Mr. Z 點左燒雞漢堡，而我就點左摩洛哥沙律。一共£6 2個人加飲品，唔貴。

Jemaa El Fnaa - at night

After dinner, we went for a walk back to Jemaa EI Fnaa, to experience the iconic nighttime atmosphere, surrounded by performers. At night, the square comes alive and overload, offering a unique and memorable experience. The morning stalls are replaced by street food stalls where tourists and locals have dinner surrounded by different street performers and entrainments. If you do not have dinner plans, it can be a good option to explore authentic Moroccan cuisine and its very cheap. 

晚飯後，我地行返去廣場，感受下德吉瑪廣場入夜後既熱鬧。係夜晚，整個廣場好似好有活力咁，完全唔同晒。早上攤位變左整整齊齊既食攤，坐滿晒當地人同旅客。連周圍餐廳都係。燈火都開滿晒，好有生氣。如果你唔知食咩好，黎廣場會係一個唔錯既選擇試下當地菜色，同埋唔貴。