I BELIEVE IN VAN GOGH ?????

That's one of the many artworks at our quirky and wonderful Riad, El Fenn. Everyone here is super friendly and helpful. One lovely woman gave Rach and I some hot shopping tips this morning so we split the gang and the chaps went walking south of the Souk to look for some ancient tombs (and much to their delight came across locals only food market on the way) and we set out for a shop that had been billed as the shop you go to if you only go to one shop in Marrakech. We got slightly list on the way and parted with 100 dirham when a street hustler forcibly showed us the way back to the shop (it's your lucky day to find me to help you he told me before demanding a ridiculous amount of money). Anyway we cut our losses and raced into a small wooden door to escape him. The place is truly a treasure trove of just about everything you could want to buy. It was dizzying and quite overwhelming but nothing a few mint teas couldn't fix. 

We were late meeting the guys for our planned afternoon biking adventure but we eventually made it out of town and were kitted out with helmets and bikes before heading off nervously into fairly insane traffic. Those of you who have followed our other travel adventures (hello mum and Armah) know we love a bit of a cycle to feel part of a city. In that respect this didn't disappoint. We dodged donkeys, motorbikes, carts, trucks and kids and saw a totally new side to the city. Rach didn't think her cycling outfit through and although she looked modest and elegant in her kaftan when walking round the shops, didn't look too culturally sensitive when riding her bike with the kaftan not covering much of her legs and blowing round like a cape when she cycled standing up. Marrakechi men will be talking about it for years to come. She was mortified but Sam was very amused by all the near accidents it caused. 

Exhausted but not wanting to leave a job unfinished we went back to our amazing hidden shop and completed what we started. You can never have too many rugs, right?

Rich and I had a Saturday evening stroll through the heaving Jamma El Fna square and found our way back to our favourite street food restaurant in the souk - a roti like bread called Mosaman grilled and filled with spicy onions and corn. 

LYTTMAB