Marrakeshby Sue Chau
April 2000
the first of five letters from Sue's solo backpacking trip to Morrocco. Sue lives in Berkeley, Calif.
Toute est bien ici. I drove with Saida and her family to Marrakesh, a dreamlike world that is even beyond my imagination. The Djemna al-Fna (center) is abuzzed with traditional musicians, snake charmers, vendors, henna tattoo artists, food stands emanating enticing smells, and crowds of people. The tourists in this area lend this city a cosmopolitan aspect, but the City is definitely of the imperial world. Donkeys dragging carriages, pedestrians, bicyclists, cars, buses, and horses mingle together on paved roads. Chaos become order as people dash around avoiding each other. Markets filled with spices, djellaba (Muslim robe), oranges, dried fruit, and numerous other items satisfy one's visual hunger. Traditional sounds of drums, clapper, and stringed instruments fill the air and transport one into a semi-hypnotic trance. We spent about a day and a half here - but now we're off to see the mountains. Saida and her family are very generous and watchful (to ensure my safety). The latter quality is difficult for me since I feel under surveillance all the time; but after a night of deep contemplation I've accepted that part of Islam society. I slept little because I heard the muezzin (the person who wakes up the town so people would go to the Mosque for morning prayers - that must've been around 4:30 a.m) call loudly this morning. I stayed awake to hear the many mystical sounds, of Arabic, of the imam calling out prayers, of foot traffic...
6 April 2000
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