Sounds Of The Souks

Tag: Travel North Africa

An exploration of The Red City known as Marrakech.

  • MOROCCAN MINT TEA

    Mint tea is practically a ritual in Marrakesh.

    The traditional way of welcoming guests.
    A woman pours tea at an argan cooperative

    After the painstakingly long queues at the airport, you finally arrive in your riad slightly overwhelmed and dishevelled.

    The owner of the riad gives you the warmest welcome with the biggest smile across his face as he guides you into the beautiful courtyard.

    As you sit down on the colourful cushions, listening to the gentle sound of the trickling water in the fountain and smell the scent of the blossom on the trees, slowly you begin to unwind.

    The owner reappears with an ornate teapot and colourful glasses on a tray, accompanied by a dish of fresh olives. He begins pouring the fresh mint tea, holding the teapot higher and higher as he pours.

    You watch with amazement as the tea finds its way perfectly into the little glasses without a single drop spilling out.

    The aroma from the fresh mint leaves is wonderful..

    You begin to feel refreshed as the fragrant scent fills the air.

    This is a traditional Morroccan greeting for visitors. The higher up the teapot is held, the more respect the guest is being shown.

    The tea also becomes aerated, making it cooler to drink.

    It takes practice to perfect pouring tea from such a height, I have tried and failed miserably.

    After you have drank your tea sweetened with sugar cubes and eaten the delicious fresh olives, the panic of trying to locate the riad and queues at the airport disappear as if by magic…

    A refreshing cup of mint tea

    Mint tea is everywhere in Marrakech.

    It’s a refreshing drink that the locals enjoy as they sit in cafes chatting with their friends.

    The name for mint tea is ‘atay’ in Moroccan darija

    It is known by the locals as  ‘Morroccan Whisky’

    The tea is made using green tea and fresh mint leaves, and it is already sweetened with sugar before serving.

    If you find it a bit too sweet, try it before adding sugar cubes.

    Fresh mint is displayed on market stalls all around the medina, alongside other herbs and spices, and the aromatic aroma tempts the tastebuds.

    You can purchase the little tea glasses in the souks, and they make the perfect gift for taking home with you.

    Make sure to wrap them well as they are quite delicate.

    A traditional Morroccan welcome.

    Sipping mint tea and overlooking the lively square from a rooftop is a very enjoyable experience in Marrakech.

    One you will remember for years to come..

    tracey.wright1963@googlemail.com
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  • OUZOUD WATERFALL

    For a great day out, take a trip to Ouzoud to see the spectacular waterfall.

    The second largest waterfall in Africa, it is well worth the three hour drive through the stunning Atlas Mountains to see it.

    I met my driver at Cafe de France, and after picking up a few more passengers, we were on our way.

    The mini bus had air conditioning and was pretty comfortable. We drove for around one and a half hours, then stopped for a toilet break and a drink.

    There was a small cooperative selling Argan oil, but I didn’t bother going in.

    Soon, we were on our way again, and believe me, the views of the Atlas Mountains were astonishing.

    On arrival, we were introduced to our guide, who spoke several different languages, and we set off walking through the lush vegetation.

    We rambled through the olive groves as the cheeky wild Barbary macaque monkeys played hide and seek in the trees with us.

    A monkey hiding in the tree

    The waterfall was visible from different angles with plenty of viewing points to take photographs or rest.

    The waterfalls plunge 110 metres into the canyon below, making it a breathtaking sight.

    We stopped for a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice before continuing our way down to the boats.

    Making pomegranate juice

    A boat ride up to the waterfall is part of the itinerary if you book a tour.

    The boats are colourfully decorated, and we were taken right up against the waterfall.

    It was an amazing experience.

    The feeling of the cool water spraying our faces was a welcome relief from the heat, and we had the opportunity to take plenty of photos up close.

    Rowing up to the waterfall

    We were dropped off on the opposite side and then had quite a steep climb up to the restaurants.

    I was able to get a table overlooking the waterfall, and the view was absolutely stunning.

    I had a simple three course meal consisting of a starter, which was a small salad with fresh bread and olives,  followed by a vegetable tagine and fruit for dessert.

    Views from the restaurant

    The meal was finished off with a glass of Morroccan whisky or mint tea as we know it.

    The meal cost around 150 dirhams and was fairly good value. It was very tasty and filling enough for a light lunch.

    After lunch, we made our way up some more steps, stopping off to feed the monkeys at the top.

    The monkeys of Ouzoud

    Finally, we were reunited with our driver and set off back for Marrakech.

    We arrived back in the early evening, giving me plenty of time to freshen up and go out again for an evening meal.

    Overall, the trip to Ouzoud was well worth the six hours travelling.

    It was absolutely beautiful, and sitting above the waterfall looking down whilst eating lunch was the highlight of the trip for me.

    The monkeys were very amusing, and I had to keep hold of my sunglasses to stop them from stealing them.

    The guide was so helpful and looked after everyone really well. Many morroccans speak five languages, and it’s very impressive.

    I highly recommend going to Ouzoud if you visit Marrakech. It’s a wonderful day trip.

    If you have mobility issues, it may be challenging because there are a lot of steps, and it can be quite a steep climb from the bottom backup.

    There’s a fair amount of walking involved.

    Some people were taken back up on Donkeys.

    Hard-working donkeys

    I booked my trip with Get Your Guide, and it was reasonably priced.

    The lunch was separate, and you paid after the meal.

    Your riad or hotel can also organise day trips for you, but it sometimes works out slightly more expensive.

    tracey.wright1963@googlemail.com
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  • BACHA COFFEE

    Calling all coffee lovers, this place is an absolute gem.

    The interior of Bacha Coffee.

    With over 200 different coffees to choose from, this place is a coffee lovers paradise.

    From the exuberant interior with beautifully tiled floors and plants to the finely dressed waiters in their elegant uniforms.

    Bacha Coffee is a wonderful experience.

    The service is impeccable, and the coffee from all over the world is incredible.

    You do have to wait for a table, but you can wander around the museum with its exotic plants and Islamic architecture whilst you wait.

    The museum and garden at Bacha Coffee

    You are given a bleeper to notify you when your table is ready.

    Once inside, you are free to take your time to paw over the extensive menu and believe me..I couldn’t decide for ages.

    I chose a Caribbean coffee from the Blue Mountains, and it didn’t disappoint.

    It came served in beautiful little cups with fresh cream, chocolate chips, and an assortment of other interesting little delights to enhance the taste of the coffee.

    I also had a slice of cake, which was delicately spiced and beautifully presented.

    My tastebuds were in heaven.

    I want to try every coffee on the menu, so I’ve promised myself I will go back again and again until I have.

    That’s a lot of coffee.

    Example of the coffee menu in Bacha Coffee.

    One thing to note,

    The queues can be very long, so I suggest going early around 9.30 am when they first open.

    The prices were fairly reasonable considering the quality of the food being served and the stunning decor, I was pleasantly surprised.

    Whenever I return to Marrakech, I always make a point of going to Bacha Coffee.

    Hopefully, I’ll eventually make my way through the hundreds of coffees on offer from around the world.

    I’m certainly up for trying.

    It’s worth visiting just to capture those perfect Instagram photos.

    The beautiful interior inside Bacha Coffee

    You can also buy coffee to take home, and it comes beautifully packaged.

    The ideal gift for someone special.

    Bacha Coffee is an instagrammable place.

    Opening hours are,

    Tuesday-Sunday 10.00am-6.00pm

    I would recommend getting there for 9.30 a.m., ready for opening time, and joining the queues. It can get incredibly busy later in the day.

    The address is,

    Dar el Bacha, Rte Sidi

    Abdelaziz Marrakech 40000

    Morocco

    tracey.wright1963@googlemail.com
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