Marrakech, Morocco

Spices for sale
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Well, Marrakech is definitely better than Fes.  Unfortunately I am a bit burned out on the country at this point, especially the large cities.  In hindsight I should've just hit Merzouga via car and then Marrakech.  Marrakech does have some cool stuff though... its streets are a bit wider in the Medina and its people a bit cooler.  But just a bit.  Its also got a very cool square.  You can buy fresh squeezed OJ for about $.35 and watch as snake charmers work their magic!  They must sedate the snakes because they barely move... but its still weird to see cobras all over the place!  They sell just about everything in the square, even live turtles.  The coolest thing this how they set up their stores... spices look so pretty, the dates are piled high and the carpets are hung so the colors catch your eye.  Its really a sweet set up.  Sadly, they don't let you walk by one stand in peace.

Nut & Date stands
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I must say Riad's are really an awesome way to see a place.  I think they are even better thab B&B's.  The one I stayed at in Marrakech was HUGE... I got lost walking around, seriously!  It wasn't a cheap Riad but it was worth it.  On the way to my Riad I had to walk through a tunnel.  Thats right, a tunnel.  Its about 4' high.  I kept hitting my head.  Vicky - stop laughing... you finally got your revenge! ;-)

its weird to see cobras all over the place!

Snake charming, yes that is a live cobra! (I think they must sedate them because they dont move much).
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One of the things I remember about Marrakech is finding a Vietnamese noodle place.  It was the first food I had that tasted yummy in quite a long time.  It really wasn't all that, but it sure tasted good at the time.  Anything but the Vegetable Tangine.  Especially since I can't drown it out with alcohol.  Yup, its been 2 weeks since I had a drink.  Muslim countries frown upon it and well, I just needed to not drink for a bit.  But I tell ya, I miss it.  A cold beer would go nice in this heat!