Marrakech

Beware of the men with monkeys or snakes, once they get them on you for a photo, they dont come off till you pay!

Marrakech, especially the Medina, the old city is very exotic. Narrow streets and very easy to get lost but also very easy to get help from the locals, even if you might not speak arabic or french. Important to have pre-hand given tips or to hire a guide in order to find what is hidden behind the beautiful big, wooden doors. Friendly people, good food and shopping and many ways to relax in a hammam or a country club a bit outside the city.

"Must see" : Jardin Majorelle, Musee de Marrakech, Jemma el fna

Ville sympa avec ses souks et sa grande place (Jeema el Fna). Il y a une très belle architecture. Il y a de nombreux musées à visiter qui sont vraiment beau (la Médersa, les Tombeaux Saadiens, les Jardins de Majorelle, le Palais Bahia....).

Don't miss the spice market. While I was there I loaded up on the Apple flavored tea but ran out of it in 2006. Damn I miss that stuff.

Avoid the touts and ripoff merchants of the Djma el Fna by going into shops that only locals would use. The people are friendly and interesting, and on one occassion I met the most excellent local man (who happened to work in the shop next door) by wandering into a herb and spice shop and saying hello to the guys chilling down the back drinking tea. I ended up staying for ages and chatting, met all his friends later on, then was treated to a beautiful meal with his family the following night at his house. Just at a time when I was beginning to think Morocco was full of thieves and liars, this man and his family and friends proved how wrong I was. Not your typical tourist experience.

It's nice here.  Don't miss the spice market.  I used this place as a stopover for camel/desert excursions.  The building structures are beautiful...somewhat run down, but some sections definitely have that old school...and I mean Hanibal appeal.

market was excellent - you can watch the artisans making just about everything - including fake desinger buckles and bags...! - just watch out for the snake charmer guys trying to strangle you with their snakes to get more money out of you... true, it happened (and I paid them 3 times what our guide had advised us - then my partner came over and told them where to go - but very scary if your a woman on her own... beautiful city - very muslim, so be aware of their customs and try to stay covered up so as not to upset their religious values

Djma-el-Fna, the famous marketplace is definately a must see...make sure you visit it both during the day as at night, since it has quite a different face during both. If you want to go shopping in the soukhs, but you don't to be hassled by the vendors, go just after noon when the city is at its' hottest. Most vendors have their siesta then and do not bother to get up from their seats when you pass.

Marrakech is a gem of a city, an hour from the atlas mountain range, 3 hours from the ocean, and 8 hours from the sahara. The architecture of the old city is spectacular and if you need a low key, low cost, beautiful place to stay, I have a guest house in the medina which always welcomes word-of-mouth visitors.