August 20, 2015

Marrakesh, Morocco

A snake charmer and his pets in the square of Djemaa El-Fna.
A snake charmer and his pets in the square of Djemaa El-Fna.
Closeup of a snake charmer's snakes.
Closeup of a snake charmer’s snakes.
Buildings on the edge of the square of Djemaa El-Fna.
Buildings on the edge of the square of Djemaa El-Fna.
Horse-drawn carriages lined up, waiting for passengers and the Koutoubia Mosque's minaret in the distance.
Horse-drawn carriages lined up, waiting for passengers and the Koutoubia Mosque’s minaret in the distance.
Food stalls cooking at night in Djemaa El-Fna.
Food stalls cooking at night in Djemaa El-Fna.
More food stalls lined up in Djemaa El-Fna.
More food stalls lined up in Djemaa El-Fna.

I stayed in my room throughout most of the day, working on updating the website as much as possible. I had woken up around noon and gotten to work for the next several hours. Finally, after 17:00, I showered, dressed, and exited my room. I then walked through the square of Djemaa El-Fna as I made my way northward. As I walked through the square, I took pictures of the different snake charmers, stalls, and ethnic dancers; also, every time I snapped a photograph of this public square, someone inevitably approached me demanding money; naturally I declined to give each of these poor bastards any money since I was merely walking through and not stopping at all to watch their pathetic shows; I can’t imagine this tactic of interrupting their show and accosting foreigners for money for each photograph they take possibly working and I sincerely hope that it does not. Anyway, after walking through the square, I liked Morocco even less (honestly, I had heard so much good about this country that I had pretty high hopes, but after my visit, I really don’t understand what the appeal is – I mean, this country is a dump). Oh well. I continued on northward to the local Pizza Hut (a restaurant I know I can trust to deliver a relatively clean and bacteria-free meal) and had a Pepsi and a barbecue chicken pizza with peppers (that tasted great!). After my meal, I stopped at the nearby Carrefour Express and bought some cookies and drinks; unfortunately the alcohol section had closed at 20:00 and I could not get any beer or wine for a nightcap. I then walked back to the hotel and worked some more inside my room. Eventually, I fell asleep around 03:00.

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An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.