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Marrakesch is a big bustling North African capital, best known for its market square (the Djemma el Fna or "souk") and street life. It becomes oppressively hot in the summer but for our visit (February) the weather was like a warm, dry British summer's day. Escape from the street-traders and con-artists is not easy for a Westerner, but our guide showed us a medieval Islamic College and a local museum which were calm and peaceful, and we also visited a very lush public garden and Islamic art museum close to our hotel. Generally speaking, Marrakesch was not much to our taste, though the enormous market area with its seemingly endless warren of narrow shopping alleys is certainly something to experience. The city had its shanty towns and poverty but was not poor by Asian standards, or no doubt by the standards of other parts of Africa. Most people seemed well dressed and well fed, and begging was less prevalent than selling and trading of all kinds. I found the hassling in the street very wearing, but we discovered an excellent Vietnamese restaurant where we were able to have a quiet group meal (also attended by Hassan) before we left.
Final verdict: I'm glad I went and I made a few contacts with nice people, but for me the walking was very exhausting and I managed to pick up a nasty head-cold while I was there. The village life is fascinating and the Berber's are lovely people, particularly the Berber children. I would recommend the tour for someone who is a regular and hardened walker. The A/B rating is deceptive, it's tough going. Marrakesch I would say is for people who love markets and haggling: there isn't a great deal there for the general tourist. If I visited Morocco again I would head for the coast - particularly in the summer, I think the heat could be very stifling inland.
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