Morocco, Marrakech - Tanjia lunch

But before picking up our Tanjia

 

we made our way

(I got yelled at by the shop keeper for taking pictures of these baklava type desserts)

to a traditional spice shop

where we learned about the various Moroccan spices, teas and lotions and what medicinal benefits they had.

We then had the opportunity to buy some.

We went down into the oven area to pick up our Tanjias

seeing the fire and

the other things they were cooking.

We carried the little pots through the streets

to the Riad where we had made them. They also served us Moroccan salad,

a slightly warm carrot salad (we thought it also had honey, cinnamon, walnuts and something to give it a very slight kick)

There was also a hot white been casserole

and fresh baked, warm, bread.

We shook the Tanjia pots to mix the contents and then tipped them out on the dishes.

Mine was OK....the garlic cooked like that was delicious but the lemon over powered the beans and there was too much oil in it. If you made it regularly you would get the proportions to your own taste.

A few stayed to get a Henna tattoo, Mark and Dave went looking for ice cream and I headed back to the Riad.

Might be Black Redstarts.

The driver yelled at me for taking this picture. I think he wanted money. I need to start carrying some small change for these eventualities.

Back at the Riad I lay down for a bit and then started in on the blog.

Cell towers "disguised" as palm trees. I had a glass of wine on the rooftop and then got back to blogging

while the others went out to dinner. I was still full from lunch.

Morocco, Marrakech - Secret Garden

We were off through the Souk again, more crowded now and most of the shops/stalls were open. Photos were snatched as I walked by, trying not to get people and trying to catch shop keepers eyes to check its ok. This still resulted in being yelled at a few times for taking pictures.

A couple of 

 

Medina taxis.

This little area had been empty when we walked past earlier.

So much to look at,

browse,

admire,

talk about,

contemplate,

touch

and barter for

to take home as a souvenir.

In this open area, those that deliver into the narrow streets of the Souk wait for their loads.

Small motorized vehicles and hand carts too.

The Secret Garden

is a surprising respite from all that. Two gardens;

one with exotic, 

non native plants.

and the other

with citrus,

olives and

native plants.

Both had pathways to quiet seating areas

and cooling

water features with narrow canals running through the gardens.

Both had a place to grab a coffee or a cool drink.

I sat for a while

in each

just enjoying the contrast,

the green and the trickle of water.

There were artisans

working in the gift shop.

After about half an hour in that peaceful location with were off again through the streets

On a chair outside a shop.

In basket in a shop window.

Off to get our Tanjia for lunch.....