Post #12 Oct 15th. Hot Air Ballooning and Merrakech

Today we are up early to be ready for our transport vehicle that is picking us up at. 5:30.  We are going hot air ballooning which I now know to be a popular thing to do in Marrakech. When our driver arrive about 5:30 there were already 2 people in the car and we went to pick up two more people before heading out on our 40 minute drive to the countryside, near Bourrous.  

There were many cars trekking to the air ballooning site, which indicated there would be a few other balloons out there,  We were invited into a hospitality tent and serviced tea and water.  The tea is always mint tea and the standard presentation is always to pour from high above the glass to create a layer of bubbles.  The tea cups are always tall (about 3-4 inches), narrow (about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter) glasses, to reduce the amount of splashing.  

The hospitality tent

Filling the balloon with hot air. 

The pilot

We watched the balloons set up.  It’s interesting how heated air can make these gigantic balloons rise.  We got into one of the baskets and started to rise.  I could count the number of balloons in the air:  31!  The only other time I had been air ballooning was in India 9 years ago, and that was only a single balloon in the air.  The controllable air balloon movement are up and down and turning which they accomplish by opening flaps in the side of the balloon.

Balloon Pictures

The group shot at the end.  The ground crew already removed the balloon.  Some of us are holding our certificates.

We find out that there is an air balloon school in Turkey, I’m sure there are others, but that’s the one that our pilot went to.  There were 14 of us in that basket including a pilot and assistant for a total of 16 people.  The balloon didn’t have any issues rising.  The balloons need to operate in low winds and according to my weather reports, the wind speed was 3 km/h with gusts up to 6km/h.  Apparently the winds are lesser in the morning so this is their ideal time.  Also, they aren’t permitted to go past 10 am as there is a nearby airport.  

The ride was lots of fun and it was cool to see so many other balloons floating around.  No sooner were we up, than it was time to come down.  There is a landing position one does so we all did that.  Then we we given certificates of flying and the pilot wrote our names in Arabic. We walked over to the hospitality tent where we were served breakfast, and then it was back into the vehicles for our ride back to our hotels.  We were done by 10:00.  The plan was to meet with Mounain at noon, so at least one of us had a nap.

On the way to the Marrakech Medina a motorcycle delivering eggs pass us.  I was impressed as he weaved through the traffic congestion but even more impressed by his cargo of an estimated 1,800 eggs.

I’m guessing 25 eggs per tray, 18 trays high and 4 stacks of trays.  If it were our standard 30 egg tray, there would be about 2,160 eggs.  Thats a lot to be weaving in and out of traffic with.

We toured through the Marrakech Medina.  It was difference from the Fes Medina because the pathways were wider and motor bikes were able to enter most of the pathways—which of course increases the risk that you’re going to be in the way of one of these things.  But they’re used to tourists and fortunately we managed to stay out of their way.  

We entered many fondouks (building used to house animals and people overnight) that had been converted into stores selling various goods.

Some of the fondouk market places.  I thought the fondouks were lovely shopping places due to the openness of the space.  Tucked away under the overhanging 2nd floors were interesting shops that sold everything under the sun.  

One interesting place we went to was a home that was converted into a hospitals for storks.  There a many storks in the region and the building Dar Ballarj (House of the storks) was at one time dedicated to treating and sheltering storks.  It has now been transferred into a facility for temporary art and cultural shows.  

The inside courtyard area of Dar Ballarj.  Its a beautiful building.

 The entry door to Dar Bellarj.  There is a stork motif in the door.

Our next building of significance in the old town was the Madrasa Ben Youssef.  The building was constructed in 1565 by Sultan Abdullah Al Ghaleb Assaadi.  The building was used to school students in religious studies, philosophy medicine and mathematics.  Today, it is the architectural marvel that attracts people to the site.  The building is under restoration to preserve the architectural features.  Zellige (tile work) is abundantly used on the walls, floors, columns and fountains.  

Zellige adorning the floor and walls.   

Picture of the massive carved entry door.  Note the carved plaster between the ceiling and wall zellige.

The central courtyard

We then continued on in the Medina and came across an art store.  Judith immediately falls for large painting depicting that beautiful blue city of Chefchaouen.  We spend some time in the store but end up walking away without the painting.  She has two days to think about getting the painting.  

Then it was more looking through the Medina.  It’s all interesting with lots of sellers hawking their wares. 

Scenes from the Medina

Coloured rose buds.

Clay terrines

One of the many carts hired by vendors or buyers to haul goods in and out of the Medina. 

One of the paths lead to this large square.  The square fills up every night with food venders and music

Judith was convinced by a vendor snake charmer person to put a little python around her neck.  It’s too weird for me.  

We start walking to Bahia Palace

Walking towards Bahia Palace

This is an example of a very rich person building an elaborate house to reside in.  Built in the 19th century it was intended to be the grandest palace of its time.  It is decorated with stunning stuccos, paintings and mosaics.  

Here are some pictures of the palace.  No commentary, but you can see how big and how much architectural work went into this project.

Ceiling in one of the rooms. 

Picture of how the room might have looked.  

Cedar panel.  

We go back to the hotel.  It’s close to 6 pm and I’m tired enough to have a nap before dinner.  For dinner we decide to walk back towards the Medina.  With a little help from Google Maps and starting directions from the hotel staff, we end up at Regue Jamaa, a little hole in the wall restaurant on rue Rmila Bab Doukala where we grab a quick bite and head back to the hotel.  Here I had a fresh Moroccan salad (tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, vinegarette).  I ended up with a mild form of some gastrointestinal issue for the next couple of days.  I can’t say for sure this was the cause, but I can’t think of anything else that would have sent me down this path.  

It’s a 10:30 start; we have one more day in Merrikech.