Elegancy101 Special: ML TOURS - Cultural Trip To Morocco - Part 3: The Imperial Meknes!

Meknes is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and its a impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with great gates. We were warmly welcomed by dancing gnawa musicians. Gnawa music is a mixture of African, Berber, and Arabic religious songs and rhythms. It combines music and acrobatic dancing. Afterwards we were invited to enjoy a delicious buffet in the upper room of a restaurant.



 



After our lunch we had the opportunity to visit the medina in Meknes. We've noticed that this medina was a lot smaller than Fez. There were enormous piles of oranges, olives, spices, fabrics, plastic flip-flops, bananas--you name it. We must say that Meknes isn't a shopper's paradise, but we've heard that it's certainly cheaper than nearby Fez!







The streets are so narrow in the medina, that the only means of transport are the donkeys.



We also enjoyed the the medina's main square with youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes and of course snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists (SCARY!).



We've learned that as the day progresses, the entertainment on offer changes: the snake charmers depart, and late in the day the square becomes more crowded, with dancing-boys, story-tellers (telling their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As darkness falls, the square fills with dozens of food-stalls as the number of people on the square peaks.



While relaxing on the rooftop terrace in Meknes, we had a full view of the old city. The wash of yellow on all the walls reminds me of the warm, bold but still inviting colors.



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