Category: Marrakech

Although Marrakech is famous for the shops and stalls of the Souks, every single alleyway, derb or street in the red city is filled with wonderful shops. These shops range from unique boutiques selling handmade jewellery, woodcraft items or leather shoes to more standard ‘newsagent-style’ shops selling water, drinks and confectionary. The frequency of these […]

During the summer, local Marrakchis will always tell you that their city is better during the night. Many often chuckle at the idea of leaving indoors and traipsing around the streets during the day on the tourist trail, preferring to nap the day away inside. Indeed, Marrakech summers are always very hot; just this last […]

The Kaftan is perhaps the most common item of clothing worn by women across Morocco. It functions as a robe or tunic can be found in a variety of materials including Wool, Cashmere, silk and cotton. It is perhaps this versatility that makes the Kaftan so popular: it can be worn all year round and […]

Moroccan pastries come in many different shapes and sizes and use many different ingredients. During the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the Chabakeya is most commonly eaten by Moroccans to break fast as it is sweet and contains a lot of energy. But even outside of Ramadan the pastries are still very popular: they are eaten at […]

For a book that includes the word humour in the title, ‘Humour and Morocan Culture’ is not particularly a funny book; but that is not to say that it is not worth a read. The books author, Matthew Helmke, promises that his short book “will explore and discuss the hidden aspects of Moroccan culture, things […]

The Figue de Barbarie goes by many names: the prickly pear, Karmous, Handia, Opuntia ficus-indica or simply, and perhaps most obviously, the Fig. However, whatever you call it, it is delicious. The Figue de Barbarie, as we shall call it for now, is a popular summer fruit throughout Marrakech and, between May and October, it is sold […]

The Iftar, taken from the Arabic إفطار‎, which literally translates as ‘Breakfast’, refers to the evening meal when Muslims end their fast during Ramadan. In Morocco, as elsewhere, it is traditional for people to try and break their fast at home, with their families. Therefore in the moments leading up to Iftar there is a […]

Watermelons are thought to have originated in southern Africa, where it is often found growing wild. Of course, today the watermelon is enjoyed all over the world and is often associated with warm climates and hot weather. It is not surprising then that Morocco is the world’s 12th melon exporter in the world. Indeed, melon […]

The city of Marrakech contains more than 360 mosques and, of course, the visual focal point of each mosque is the minaret. The minaret – from the arabic manāra (منارة), meaning lighthouse – is a tall spire or tower that extends up from the main mosque. Perhaps the most prominent example is the beautiful minaret […]

  During the month of Ramadan, many Moroccan’s change their job to fit the alternate rhythm of life during this period. As the Muslim people fast during the day, the small shops and many of the non-tourist restaurants which sell food and drink to locals need to find a way to make money. Abdil invited us […]

100 hundred years ago the first train line was built in Morocco. It connected the cities of Casablanca and Berrechid and was used to transport supply military troops of the French Protectorate. Fast forward almost exactly 50 years and The National Office of Railways – or the ONCF as it is now more commonly known […]

Though the ancient city of Marrakech has gained its nickname as the ‘red city’ because of the intense shade of red that is used to colour many of the residences here, don’t think that the city can be easily defined by this one colour.

If you speak to anyone who has traveled to the red city of Marrakech, one thing they will not forget to mention are the famous orange juice stalls that are colourfully scattered through the central square of Jemaa al-Fnaa.