April 19, 2014 Oporto to Marrakech dinner in Place Jemaa El Fna Booth #22

April 19, 2014  Oporto to Marrakech dinner in Place Jemaa El Fna Booth #22

After a rough night’s sleep we got up at 4:00 am to get a taxi to the airport and catch a plane to Madrid to make our connection to Marrakech.  We arrived in Marrakech at around 3:00 and it took an hour to get through passport control.  We called Naoire and found that he was waiting for us in the airport lobby. In Marrakech they still use the old system to identify clients; drivers and guides hold up placards with the name of the client in the airport lobby beyond passport control, just like in the 1960’s.

Thank god Naoire is a modern man who uses telephone and email.  Suzette called him and he was standing near her and he found her ikmmediately and we met and he drove us to the Lawrence’s apartment in the Old City.  As it turns out the apartment is beside the palace and one of the entrances to the medina.   We said good bye to Naoire and took showers and rested for a couple of hours.

Naoire came back for us at around 6:30 p.m. and we walked into the Medina.  He guided us through the Medina, stopping at a few stores he thought we would like to see.  He seemed to know lots of folks.  He showed us his business which is making boots out of leather.  We also went to a high end antique store and a wonderful Moroccan Caftan store.  Finally, we arrived at Place Jemaa el Fna, which is at the center of the Medina and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; number three for the trip, after the Giant’s Causeway and NewGrange.  I cannot tell you how kinetic and active the Place Jamaa el Fna is.  It reminds me of 1968 exactly, with lots of activity with hawkers and people milling about looking for food.  It was great but challenging and we were happy to have a reliable guide.   The Medina is challenging at best as motor bike and motor cycle come whizzing through the narrow streets and push carts and people are moving about everywhere.  There is still a very pronounced mix of the Medieval and the modern in Marrakech.

Here is a picture Willy took in the medina near the apartment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154022383615198&set=a.10152671735170198.1073741825.598575197&type=1

We walked around Jamaa el Fna for a few minutes looking for a place to eat.  We stopped at booth 22 which specialized in shish kebabs and took seats on one of the long tables of clients.  We were brought loaves of Arab bread and olives and harissa and a red sauce.  The waiter then took our orders. We had mixed shish kebabs and couscous for about $30.00.  After dinner we walked back toward the apartment stopping in an open area in a side alley to shop for groceries.  We bought figs, apricot jam, bread, coffee and tea for 95 Dirham (about $13.00).

A block or two later Willy stopped us at a shop exhibiting hookahs. We haggled with a vendor for a few minutes and Willy bought a hookah from a shop for about $30.00.  We then stopped at another store near the entrance to the medina and bought milk, water and tobacco for Willy’s hookah and went home and said goodnight to Naiore.

When I checked the freezer of the fridge to see if the Raposiera Sparkling Brut had frozen, I was pleased to see it had not but that it was very cold, just the perfect drinking temperature.  Willy made a hookah and a pot of green tea and Suzette and I split the bottle of sparkling wine on the patio of the apartment above the living quarters, for a lovely ending to a hectic day.

Bon Appétit