2024 WORLD CRUISE
2024 WORLD CRUISE – BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS
SILVERSEA Silver Whisperer – January 15 – May 26.
132 Nights. 66 Ports, 15 Countries.
Photo of the Day – El Fna market, Marrakech
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Cobra close up
Snake charmers, live musicians and story tellers – it’s like something out of the 1001 Nights.
That is found at Jamaa el Fna, the main square and market place in medina quarter or old city in Marrakech.
Unesco declared the Jamaa el-Fna a ‘Masterpiece of World Heritage’ in 2001.
During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice sellers, men with monkeys, water sellers in colorful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers will pose for photographs for tourists.
El Fna orange juice stand
El Fna monkeys
Water sellers roam the square in colorful costumes and tasseled hats, ringing copper bells. The brass cups are for Muslims while the white metal cups are for other religions.
Water seller
Snake charmers bewitch their cobras with flutes, and drape the snakes over tourists, and kiss the cobras.
Snake charmer
El Fna snake charmer
Kissing Cobras
Tooth pullers wielding fearsome pliers, offer to pluck the pain from out of the heads of toothache sufferers, trays of extracted molars attesting to their skill. These self-proclaimed dentists sell both teeth and dentures to the poor with bad teeth.
El Fna tooth seller
Medicine men have compounds of ground roots, dried herbs, animal parts that are used as natural remedies for everything from colds to warding off the evil eye.
El Fna Medicine men
There are acrobatic feats where young men perform cartwheels, somersaults, and tottering human pyramids to entertain the crowd and earn a few coins.
El Fna acrobats
There are women with piping bags full of henna paste, ready to paint hands, feet or arms with “tattoos” that will last up to three months.
El Fna henna women
As dusk falls, the square becomes a huge open-air dining area, packed with stalls lit by gas lanterns, and the air is filled with wonderful smells and plumes of cooking smoke spiralling up into the night. Makeshift tables, chairs, and canopies are set up everywhere. The people are warm, friendly, and provide a night market entertainment.
El Fna market at night
El Fna night food seller
El Fna at night
El Fna night food stand
El Fna food seller
The square gradually fills until it becomes a whole carnival of storytellers, acrobats, musicians and entertainers.
Sandy with Guimba player
Marrakech Guimbi player
Berber dancers
El Fna fortune teller
El Fna should be visited both during the day and at night to experience how it changes during the day. Going at night allows you to the experience hustle and bustle of the market and immerse yourself in Moroccan culture.
The market stalls and street entertainers provide something for everybody.
For the best view, have a drink on the terrace of Café Glacier.
Cafe Glacier