southern excursion day 7 and homeward

We lugged our luggage to the bus station, accompanied by a puppy we nearly smuggled (ok not really) onto the bus with us. Our hotel search in Marrakech took awhile, but we eventually got some rooms on a street a stone’s throw away from the Jemaa Lfna.

We spent the rest of the daylight walking around the city, getting postcards, and going to the Bahia Palace. The Bahia Palace was built in the 18th century by one of the sultan’s viziers and then used as the residence of the French resident general. The only thing left of the palace is the building and the interior decoration, like the magnificent painted and carved cedar and plaster ceilings.

After dark the Jemaa Lfna really comes alive, and becomes way less touristy. Food stalls and tents spontaneously appear, serving food of questionable quality to tourists and locals alike. The smoke and lights made the square look like it was filled with white fireworks. We saw some performers, but not many. There were some fortune tellers, dancers, and also games where you could win a bottle of soda(?). We hung around for about 20 minutes until I noticed we were being followed by a super sketchy guy, at which point we hauled ass over to the Koutoubia mosque square to meet other friends.

G doesn’t go clubbing. The other three ladies I was staying with went out that night while I went to bed early. I didn’t have anything to wear anyway.

We caught the train the next day at 1pm, and arrived back in Rabat at 6pm. Although it was great fun to travel around the country for a week, I was glad to get back to Rabat. 57 Rue des Consuls does feel like home to me now. I had an awkward Alone Tagine for dinner and went to bed early.

The Alone Tagine is so called because I eat alone, from my own mini-tagine. Since my family eats dinner really late, I’ve been getting my meals earlier in the evening; for instance I had dinner when the rest of the family was having tea. I do appreciate Hajja making me dinner early, and even though it is a bit awkward, it’s my one American Thing I wouldn’t change. I just can’t handle eating so late at night and then going to bed immediately afterwards. I also get the hubs basket to myself, which may or may not be a good thing…