RE: [Leica] OT Venice Hotels / Marrakesh

[Tim Atherton <timatherton@theedge.ca>]

I think the post and thread below is one you were thinking of?

tim

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Jim Laurel
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2004 11:01 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] OT Venice Hotels / Marrakesh
>
>
> Howard,
> I just got back from North Africa doing one of my favorite things
> - roaming
> around deserts in Land Rovers!  We were in Marrakech for Christmas and in
> the Draa Valley for New Years.  ;-)
>
> Without a doubt, the best place to stay in Marrakech is in a traditional
> house ("Riad") right in the old city ("Medina").  We have done this twice
> now, and each time it has been outstanding.  You and your family
> could rent
> a small one and I guarantee you that it will be cheaper and a better
> experience than any hotel.  These are generally 3 stories high,
> with a small
> courtyard open to the sky.  Around this courtyard on each level are the
> bedrooms.  This Christmas, we had a large one, as we had 5 other friends
> along.  We had our own housekeeper and cook as well.  Even when
> we rented a
> small one just for our family (4), we had a cook/housekeeper with us.
>
> Contact Marrakech Medina for details.  The URL is below.  Talk to
> Nora.  She
> speaks a little English.  You will have to pay in advance, but trust me,
> they are a good outfit with the best riads.
> http://www.marrakech-medina.com
>
> Looking down into our small riad during the '00 trip
> http://www.spectare.com/dispatches/LondonBombayCebu/d05-Morocco/im
age15.html
>
> Whatever you do, avoid the Grand Hotel du Tazi near the city centre, which
> is recommended by some guide books - an older edition of the Lonely Planet
> in particular.  It is awful.  Hair and stains on the pillows, pubic hairs
> all over the linens, glass broken out of the windows, centipedes in the
> bathrooms...  Horrible.
>
> I'd also avoid the much vaunted "La Mamounia".  We stayed there
> once to see
> what it was like and we found it a real turn off.  Snobby staff, equally
> snobby guests, and we all became very ill from eating club
> sandwiches there.
> On top of that, thier prices are just insane.  La Mamounia is not
> the place
> to have an authentic Marrakech experience.  You must stay in a riad inside
> the medina.
>
> The Medina at night - a safe and secure place...
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0465.htm
>
> That brings us to food.  Many of the restaurants that surround
> the Djemaa el
> Fna are a rip off with lousy food to boot.  My advice is to have your cook
> prepare a good solid breakfast at your riad, then just grab a small snack
> for lunch.  Then, at around 6-7pm, eat at one of the many food stalls that
> are set up in the Djemaa el Fna in the evening.  We have done this many
> times and have never been sick.  Some people find it a turn-off that the
> food (particularly meats) are on open display uncovered, but they are all
> cooked well and very very tasty.
>
> Tip: One of the best of these stalls is #41.  Great every time.  Ask for
> Ahmed.  He will take good care of you.  Come back a few times in a row and
> you will get the royal treatment.  His grilled aubergine is great, as well
> as the kefta.
>
> Photo: the guy on the far left is Ahmed at stall #41.  My son is
> just to his
> right taking a photo.  If you go there, could you print out a
> copy and give
> it to him for me?  I can provide a high res original.
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0452.htm
>
> Cooking mussels at Djemaa el Fna:
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0443.htm
>
> As far as photography goes, it is tough in any Moroccan city.
> People often
> want a tip for a photo, but people with whom you have engaged in a
> transaction already are always happy to pose for you.  But candids are
> tough.  It gets better in the desert.  Down toward Zagora and
> Mhamid in the
> Draa valley, people are a little more mellow about it.  Women
> will generally
> not appreciate thier photo being taken by a stranger.  Take some
> time to get
> to know people and it gets a little easier.
>
> These shots of Omar was taken at dawn near Merzouga:
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0902.htm
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0900.htm
>
> One of our campsites near Merzouga
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0893.htm
>
> My wife, Karin near Mhamid
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw1348.htm
>
> Thing is, it can be hard to get access to these people unless you have
> wheels.  We had driven our own Land Rovers down from the UK.  But
> there are
> many agencies in Marrakech with the white Land Rover Defender
> 110s that can
> take you out for a few days.  It is well worth the trouble to do so.
>
> Cool Land Rovers
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw1228.htm
> http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/discoj
ump1024.htm
http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0845.htm
http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw1550.htm

One of the white tourist D110s near Mouzouga
http://www.spectare.com/gallery/Maroc%2003%20Gallery/source/20cw0865.htm

Email me off list if there is anything else you want to know.

- --Jim Laurel

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Cummer" <cummer@netvigator.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 8:03 PM
Subject: [Leica] OT Venice Hotels / Marrakesh


Also, after Venice we are going to Marrakesh for a
> conference and travel tips for that area of the world would also be
> appreciated. I expect I will take my Canon digital SLR and Leica R
> lenses on this trip - just to stray back on topic.
> Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy New Year!)
> Howard in Hong Kong

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