After a long first day you need two things....A good nights rest and a good breakfast...
Starting this day off right was crucial. I awoke to Bob Marley. The song Three little birds was playing in my head. I knew it was gonna be a good day. I had met an British chap over breakfast and was quickly joined by another to start of this adventure. Djemaa Ek Fna or "The Square" as most locals call it, was regular in its insanity. Its hot. Africa Hot. The sun just beats down on you. Africa hot is like turning on the heat in your house when it is 35 degrees Celsius outside, then lighting yourself on fire. It felt like it was at least 38 degrees Africa (This should be a new heat measurement.
After being attacked by a combo of street performers and monkeys. We decided to eat yet again at a restaurant for some Tagine, a local delicacy made with meats and or vegetables..(Google it),
and sauce pronounced "ha-ree-sah", which tastes like a lemon sauce.
Once David figured out how to pour his "Berber Whiskey" or mint tea (More bubbles means better fortune. They wish you all types of fortune here always), we all parted ways before deciding to meet to watch the Champions league final between Manchester United and FC Barcelona, at the cinema for 6pm.
I headed towards the "Palais Badhi" to see what this was all about..
On my way I walked into a spice shop and chatted with some locals. By the time we finished having tea, the palace was closed and set to reopen in a few hours. Then an Idea hit me.
I must go for a "Hammam". Mohammad took me through winding alleyway till we arrived at our location. He negotiated a fair price and I was all set.
I was lead into a room, given a robe and told to undress. From there you are taken into another room like a sauna, but only bigger, with a tiled table in the center and told to lose the robe.
First splashed with 4 buckets of HOT water. Then 2 of COLD and 2 more of HOT.
lying face down the table, you get scrubbed vigorously like an animal (Yes I went to this intentionally) with abrasive gloves and black soap, when it is time to turn over your ass is slapped. Next I was Splashed by HOT water again and again. I should mention that it was difficult to contain my laughter at this point cause the whole thing just seemed strange.After washing my hair the woman doused me this warm water and lead me back to the robe room as I called it. A next woman took me into another room for a back and calf massage. After that I got changed and had some tea on the terrace. VERY relaxing at this point. If you ever come to Morocco you must try this. it is quite the experience...
The palace was the next stop after leaving the Hammam,
While heading back, I was greeted by Mohammad again and invited to his shop for some King tea. King Tea is like Mint tea but also contains: Rose, cardamom, Aniseed, cloves, Nutmeg and the flowers from the nutmeg tree...The best tea I ever had without exaggeration. I then had to be on my way, but was humbled when my host and his brother gave me some free herbs and spices, (which doesn´t happen to often in Marrakesh) and bid me good fortune and safe travels.. It was a really good feeling.
