United just started this direct route between Newark and Marrakech in October. Seven hours in the air and another hour in line for passport control. Then it was time to find my bag, so I went to check the screen..
Finding my bag turned out to be quite easy. A bit harder to find the driver my hotel sent for me. Eventually I linked up with Ibrahim and I was on my way to Riad Saad, my hotel for the first two nights. After setting my gear down, I set off with the map I’d been given and found a spot for coffee and tagine.
In this part of the city, there aren’t any cars. Sort of. At least, there aren’t roads for cars. There are many motorbikes! And sadly I think they’re all bigger than my future monkey bike will be. Lots of winding alleys with sellers everywhere you look. And then a bike or bicycle or donkey and cart coming through. Sometimes vehicles coming from both directions and a mini standoff ensues. Nobody seems bothered though. Everyone’s just going somewhere.
Initial impressions of Marrakech: warm weather (70F when I landed!), delicious food, and friendly people. Lots of people trying to sell me stuff, of course, but it’s fine to say no and keep walking. And kudos to them for knowing so many languages (Arabic, French, Spanish, English). For some reason a few people have asked me if I’m from Germany. (And no, I’m not wearing a David Hasselhoff shirt on this trip!)