Marrakesh, Morocco

Thrilling, shadowy, fragrant and only a four hour flight away(from heathrow airport). Marrakesh continues to seduce travellers in search of a heady, otherwordly city break!  The sprawling square in the world is as thrilling as the Place Djemaa el Fna, is in the heart of the medina, overlooked by the magnificient 12th-century Koutoubia minaret, is an unpleasant combination of sounds of cars, motorbikes, bicycles, donkeys; of shopkeepers, food sellers, performers and musicians. In our first day we headed to the famous square the open air spactacle...and we watched the performers.. the fire-eaters, snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats limber up, magicians and street dentists set out their tools. After few hours of watching them.....we had a glass each of cool, freshly squeezed orange juice from one of the stalls on Djemaa el Fna square, will set you back just 17p :)  We've been told(from the owner in the Riad we stayed).

..it is safe to have ice in ur drinks as most establishments are made from bottled water....so i requested not put any ice on our juices...in spite of everything, please do not drink iced orange juice from street stalls in the Djemaa el Fna square(for safety reasons), really their orange juice a best thirst-quencher! When we marvelled at the chaotic beauty of the square,  we enter an intricate maze of alleyways of the souq, offering every possible variation of carpet, traditional and modern jewellery, leather, wrought iron and all amidst the pungent aromas of spices, herbs and oils.