After Essaouira, Marakech was jarring to the senses - busy, congested, hot, noisy and humid. Everything about Marrakech spelt commercialism; from the souks in the medinas to the many wide boulevards that lead to The Koutoubia mosque.

We got completely lost in the medina on the first day - labyrinths of little alleyways filled to the brim with leather slippers, spices, pottery, jellabahs (traditional desert wear), tin lanterns and the occasional genie lamps (made in India!). Besides pedestrians, vehicular traffic like petite taxis, motobikes and the occasional mules compete for room in the covered passage ways.

On our own the next day, we managed to seek out the medersa (Koranic school)



with its inumerous little chambers some barely measuring 5' x 7'. We also visited the Museum of Marakech which has a beautiful mosaic tiled courtyard with a dramatically raised chandelier; new age music was piped into the huge room with strategically placed (and welcomed) seats.

We also went to see the Saadian tombs in which some of the earlier Sultans of Morocco were buried.

We will post some pictures once we're back in the US.