A Seven Continent Journey

to get through cold coupled with a hectic pace prior to leaving for Marrakech.

Plane ride from Chicago to Paris was easy, plane was half empty so I got good

sleep. The flight from Paris to Marrakech was aroumd 3.30 hrs, landing around 1.00pm. The most obvious first impression was the amount French influence here. Situated at the foot of the Atlas mountains, the imperial city of Marrakech is large, noisy, polluted and smelly. The Snow clad Atlas mountains is an amazing backdrop to the city. But Marrakech is also seems fascinating, full of history, and is the cultural center of Morocco. After checking in the hotel and a brief nap I headed to the Djemma el Fna which is really the heart of Marrakech. It is a large central square in the old city (Medina) and during the day it's a perfect place to grab a freshly-squeezed orange juice and a handful of dates. At the end of the afternoon the Djemma el Fna transforms into an entertainers paradise -- if you're in to snake charming, juggling, music and that sort of thing. Snack stalls are replaced with stalls offering more substantial fare and the square comes alive with entertainment that apparently hasn't changed much since medieval times. Video

Djemma el Fna is surrounded by cafe's overlooking the square so you can just relax and watch the world go by if you're tired of jostling the crowds below. I met up with Peter Sayer a runner from Atlanta who I had met initially in Rio De Janerio, where he ran his first marathon. We soon mingled with the crowd, we were asked for money we took photos of the performers and stopped to watch the entertainment. We walked through the alleys that lead into heart of Medina, and honestly speaking there were some scary moments when crowds of young and old would insist on helping us and demand money. The Medina is the old, walled part of town where life continues much as it has for hundreds of years. Mopeds battle for the right of way with donkeys in the narrow alleyways filled with shops selling steel, wool and live chickens. The main thoroughfares are crammed with shoppers, tourists and playing in small alleys. Once out of the old city, you feel quite safe, and nobody bothered , infact I walked back to my hotel. I was pleasantly surprised with amount of popularity of Indian Music and movie stars here.