Marrakech
After trips in Asia in 2007 and America in 2008 it was time for Africa in 2009. I choose for a vacation in Marocco. I wanted to see the berber villages and the old `Red City`of Marrakech. On 25 May 2009 I left with a group of 21 people to enjoy a holiday in Marocco. After a flight of 4 hours from Amsterdam - Cassablanca and Cassablanca - Marrakech we reached our destination.
A little history of this great city. Marrakech is an important and former imperial city in Marocco. It has a population of about 1 million inhabitants and is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region. It is near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains which we also paid a visit. Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz).
Marrakech is founded in 1062 by the Almoravid leader in Marocco Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar. He decided that the original capital of Marocco, Aghmat, was becoming overcrowded and chose to build a new capital. He decided to build it in the plains near the Tansift river. He chose the site of Marrakech, because it was in neutral territory between the Maroccan tribes. The probable origin of its name is from the Amazigh words ´mur (n) akush´, which means "Land of God". The successor of Abu-Bakr, Yusuf ibn Tashfin, completed the city and created the Koutoubia Mosque and a new kasbah (castle).
After reaching the Oudaya Hotel we explored the city the next day. We visited the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia Mosque and off course the Djemaa el Fna square in the old centre (the médina). These things are off course a must if you are visiting the city. Because of the heat (more than 30 degrees now in May), it was time to hit back to the hotel in the afternoon after an impressive day.
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The Oudaya Hotel in Marrakech in Morocco is in a tranquil part of the old city. All kinds of transportation available in the city are within easy distance from the hotel. Most popular is the taxi to the 'Medina', the heart of the city. A taxi cost not much, about 30 dirhams (3 euro), with a few people not expensive. There are also several attractions around the location of the hotel which can be easily visited by walking, like the train station or the botanic garden. The location is perfect for the guests who want to avoid the noise and pollution.
There are dinner facilities in the hotel, but I also advice to eat in the city which is more fun. And: the hotels are the only places for serving alcohol. The rosé in this hotel is good! And they serve Dutch beer: Heineken. There is also nothing wrong with the local beer tehy serve.
