From Here to There

Getting around the old city of Morocco was no easy feat. It takes some creativity and hard work to sometimes get where one needs to go.

If you need to get from point A to point B, you might grab a "petit taxi" or you could negotiate with one of the drivers of a horse drawn carriage, a "caleche" as they are called, to take you where you want to go.

Both locals and tourists use these horse cabs to get around town, weaving in and out of streets right along with all the motorized vehicles, but at a clip-clop pace. We found it to be a leisurely way to sit back and enjoy the view.

In addition to these, you will find all sorts of creative modes of transportation,

but one of the most popular ways is by motor scooter. This is one of the things about Marrakech I found most unnerving. The scooters would race by on both sides of you, as you were walking down the streets--once I dodged one on my left only to find myself face to face with a horse on the right.

It was very common to see children riding with their parents,

and sometimes whole families would jump on for a ride. No helmets anywhere in sight.  As one friend expressed it, she was never so glad to get back to a city with crosswalks than she was after a trip to Marrakech. Very, very nerve wracking making your way along the streets amongst all the bikes zipping by you on both sides.

A motor scooter can make only so many deliveries--I saw one scooter stacked high front and back with crates of eggs--but sometimes you just have to use a beast of burden to get the job done.

Burros or donkeys were plentiful

helping with all sorts of deliveries.

Burros at attention,

and burros on a coffee break!

Bright and early one morning, we saw this chicken truck just down from our Riad making its deliveries.

Fruits were delivered in what would you call this--a motorbike/truck combo?

And I spied this truck making a delivery as we walked down towards the square. Curious, I peeked inside

and discovered it was making an olive oil delivery, not a gasoline delivery as one might think.

And finally, as we made our way to the airport the last day, I spied a caravan of camels taking a break at the traffic light. Rushing to catch our plane, we didn't take time to stop to inquire as to their destination, but I can imagine they were just out for a stroll with all their gear. 

I'll never take my SUV, nor divided roads, nor crosswalks, nor bike lanes for granted ever again. I have a new found appreciation for their value!

Coming up, I'll tell a bit about the people we met, the beautiful design of the Moroccan "look," and the treasures of the market in the upcoming week if you'd be so nice as to come back for a visit soon.