What to Do in Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech, the first city that comes to mind when Morocco is mentioned, is a very interesting place. The first place where you take your step is Cema Ül Fna square, which is a square of chaos. It is as if this square does not live today, as if it was left in the past, perhaps 70-80 years ago.

You can spend 2-3 days comfortably here and explore the square and the narrow streets that extend from the square. As you walk through the narrow streets, you often come across people dressed in loose-fitting hoodies. This garment, called Celeba, is mostly worn by men. They look like Jesuit priests out of medieval movies, especially when they wear black celeba and cover their headgear. Sometimes they even get creepy and ask you if you want a poppy. Sometimes you feel like you are on a movie set. The square and its surroundings are quite suitable for taking photos and movies.

In narrow streets, especially in the evening, when the sunlight falls on the houses, a magnificent red dominates the environment. This is because of the red soil used in the buildings. The light reflecting from the houses to the streets creates a red image everywhere. The interesting architecture of the houses adds a different atmosphere to this beautiful red color.

If you want to take pictures on the streets, you have to put plenty of coins in your pocket. Unfortunately, everyone you photograph is asking you for money.

Among the peddlers, the most interesting one was the seller of used dentures. The square, which these people fill all day long, turns into another realm when it gets dark and evening. Big tables are set up in the square, fires are lit, a grill smoke, a shout, and suddenly you find yourself in a very different place. They put seats and tables under big awnings, and many tourists eat without hesitation at these tables, which are not very hygienic. If you want to take a photo of this view under the evening light, I suggest you go upstairs to the Panorama Cafe right next to the square.

If you want to do some shopping, there is a covered market where you can go from the square. More textile products are sold here. You can buy yourself a celeba here. Be careful, don't forget to bargain a lot. Even pretend to turn your back and leave, and then you will get the price you want immediately. Shopkeepers have a habit of telling tourists 2-3 times the price. On the side of the covered bazaar, there is another bazaar that we can call semi-closed. Here, mostly sweets and food products are sold. It is possible to see all kinds of sweets with a fly landing on it.

I wouldn't recommend buying much food from here. The cafes on the side of the square can be preferred to take a rest after shopping. The most consumed thing here is mint tea. They throw mint leaves into a glass of hot water and serve it with some sugar. It is a taste that we are not used to, but it is drinkable to try.

There are nice restaurants around the square where you can have dinner. When you enter the buildings, they look quite original with their beautiful architecture and stone workmanship. In one of these restaurants, you should eat the famous Moroccan dish Tajin. They put the onion, meat, tomato, apple sliced ​​potato, carrot and orange peels on the bottom in special earthenware pots into the oven in dome-lidded pots that they cover. When it comes out, it has a very nice smell and delicious taste.

Kutubiye Mosque, which has been watching the square for 800 years with its 67-meter minaret next to the square, is one of the places that deserves attention. Another place is the Bahia Palace. Just behind Cema Ül Fna Square is the Jewish quarter. Here, the houses are intertwined, the streets are a little wider, but of course, the liveliness of the square is not found in the streets here. You can make a city tour with horse carriages. This tour starts from the Jewish quarter or Cema Ül Fna Square, you can take a half-hour short or one-hour long tour, the last stop is the square.