(Guest Travelogue entry submitted by John Wilson, owner of Medina Baskets, and a Moroccan importer extraordinaire)
"Arriving in Marrakech by air from Casablanca is always a thrill. The city lies in a valley at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, and though it is twice the size it was when I started going in 1984 it is still a beautiful place surrounded by orange and olive groves.
As soon as I get into the old part of the city, called the medina, I am taken back to another era; an age before cars and cell phones. The smells are intoxicating and the light is exotic, especially toward the end of the day when the shafts of light angle through the shades placed above the narrow streets to deter the harsh mid-day sun.
One of my favorite things to do in any part of Morocco is just wander through the serpentine streets, drinking in the experience as a passive observer of their lives. In contrast to most of America, life is lived in the streets. Children play, old men sit and watch the world go by, and everyone is very present to the next moment. They are not hiding in iPod-world. They are out there and watching, looking for the next moment to unfold.
Eat at the big square, sit in the cafes, get slow roasted lamb (mechoui), visit the royal palaces, and of course shop in the souks. Bear in mind that bargaining is fun and should not be seen as an insult.
Above all, love the people and the Arab culture, which values heart, family, friends, health and happiness above all other things. We have much to learn."
Thanks John!
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