The large central square in the Medina (old town) comes alive after dusk with a host of performers: African bands, snake charmers, acrobats, storytellers, food stalls etc. They all collect money for watching the performance or taking photos and all ask for ridiculous amounts initially. The group here wanted the equivalent of £4 for a few snaps, but we only gave what we thought was reasonable, so they got £1 (10 dirhams).
The picture above is of the interior of a madersa, a Koran school. This one was refurbished in the 1560’s and is covered with intricate designs and, overall, gives the impression of great peace and harmony. Experts think that the same craftsmen worked on this building as worked on the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.
The El Badi Palace (was there an el Goodi?) dates from the same period as the madersa, but is now a ruin. Above, Jane takes the part of the ghost doomed to perpetually wander the crumbling subterranean passages. The photo below is of the icon of Marrakech, the Koutoubia Minaret, completed in the 12th century, and visible for miles, given the absence of tall buildings here.
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