87. The Wonderful People that are Marrakech

It's my final day's outing in Marrakech - yes, it's time for me to pack my kit and move on again - and today I took another walk into the narrow crowded streets of the Medina, through the maze of souks to the large open place known as Jemaa El Fna. 

This busy hub is the centre attraction for most tourists visiting this city ... but it is also a busy shopping mall for the local populace. This mixture of people - coming and going, shopping and sight-seeing, eating and gawking - gives the Place a real buzzy united nations atmosphere. But is the wonderful local Moroccans that give it all the colour, noise and excitement ... 

 

A couple of hippies left over from the 70's ...

and while the tourists gorge themselves at the sidewalk cafes ...

and the roof-top restaurants ...

and ritzy eateries ...

most Moroccans - like this prickly pear fruit vendor - go about the daily slog of making a living the best they can ...

or this DVD vendor ...

Despite the hardships of their daily life, the restraints of culture and religion for many and having to put up with the hordes of tourists invading their space, Moroccans from Marrakech are a happy and out-going and friendly people. Thank you to all those appearing in this blog.

My final blog from Marrakech tomorrow gives a few more impressions of my stay here.