Oy, into the chaos we plunge. We arrived in Marrakech this afternoon. Our last day with Ali and now we are on our own for the remainder of our time in Morocco.
About a 4 hour drive, including one stop for tea and a police checkpoint where Ali got pulled in for speeding. Believe me, he wasn’t going very fast. He asked for an explanation, the policeman asked for a bribe. Ali paid 50 Dirham to avoid a 300 Dirham ticket. Divide by 10 to get a feel in US $.
We had more conversation about the power structure. The king has absolute power and one never says anything bad about the royal family. The king appoints some ministers like the Exterior minister, the Judicial minister, the Minister of Islam and a few others. The people elect a prime minister but the king and his ministers have power over the Prime Minister and can remove him at any time. At the moment, the Prime minister is not well liked by the people but he has a good relationship with the King so he is safe for now.
Between the ministers, police and army, everything is tightly controlled. It seems there is widespread corruption. Ali would like to move to Canada or the US and is strategizing how to make that happen. Canada is sending some recruiters in a few weeks looking for labor. Especially truck drivers who are paid well. We checked with Ali before putting any of this in writing.
Now, we are checked into Riad Karmela, deep in the Medina of Marrakech. We are given a map and some directions. We decide we’d best get out there before loosing our nerve. The Marrakech Medina is huge, easy to get lost, crowded. Motorbikes are allowed. Keep to the right and and arms tucked in lest you get clipped. We did manage to get to the famous square, Place Jamaa El Fna. A left, then a right and straight until the vegetable market, turn left and go through the market, keep heading south until you see a certain restaurant, make a little jog to the left and voila, you are in a huge square. If you walk more than 10 minutes and aren’t there, you are lost. And we are warned to only ask shopkeepers or maybe a lady for directions. Not the kids who will lead you astray and ask for money.
The square is hot and busy. A woman grabs my hand and grasps tightly. She has something that looks like a syringe. She has me grasped so tightly and I flash, oh shit, she is going to inject something…so I yell No! And fiercely pull my hand away. I realize later she is probably wanting to do a henna tattoo.
We make it back to the Riad easily. A boost to our confidence. Relax before dinner, which we decide to have at the Riad for this first night.