http://trustedplaces.com/review/morocco/marrakech/attraction/1c94e73/jemaa-el-fna <b>Jemaa El Fna</b><br />Marrakech, Medina, , Morocco en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/morocco/marrakech/attraction/1c94e73/jemaa-el-fna http://trustedplaces.com/review/morocco/marrakech/attraction/1c94e73/jemaa-el-fna/1e8nl8
Review by travelwhammy

Rating: 3.00
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Place Jemaa El Fna, or the Main Square to you or me, is set in the heart of Marrakechâ¬"s Medina. It has everything from snake charmers to monkeys, orange juice stalls to street barbeques, local live musicians to henna painters.

As interesting as this all sounds, I would only recommend visiting the square to take in the sights, sounds and unique experiences of the place. If you are looking to eat, find a bargain or relax, then this is not the best place for you.

There are many locals meeting up in this area, but it is also heavily touristy as well. Whilst the street food is something to add to your to-do-list, avoid the restaurants that span the outside of the square as the food is sub-standard at best. There are plenty of excellent eateries nestled away in other parts of the Medina.

It also seems the market vendors will hold out for higher prices here, perhaps because of how tourist-heavy it is; they know they can hold out for higher prices.

Other cautions to take into account are to avoid taking photos of snake charmers / snakes, as you will receive demands for money, and keeping an eye out for monkeys being put on your shoulder as you will come across the same thing!

However, DO try the street food, DO watch and listen to the local musicians, and DO have a drink on the terraces and rooftops of aforementioned cafes. The rest of Marrakech and the Medina will take care of the rest⬦

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:27:04 +0000 /review/morocco/marrakech/attraction/1c94e73/jemaa-el-fna/1e8nl81420894033 travelwhammy http://trustedplaces.com/review/morocco/marrakech/attraction/1c94e73/jemaa-el-fna/1625i8
Review by Frankie

Rating: 4.00
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Place Jemaa El Fna is the huge open space in the middle of Marrakech Medina (old town). It has a long history of being one of the biggest markets or meeting places not only in Africa, but the whole World. It's a kind of a hub.

All the guide books will tell you what you can find there: snake charmers, tooth pullers, sooth sayers, story tellers, orange juice on tap, beggars, performers, sightseers.

It's as much a fair for Moroccans as it is for international visitors.

You will get hassled there by vendors but it's not too bad. Agree prices first (before taking whatever is on offer). For example, the night market restaurant stalls are very aggressive and will drag you to a stall and hand you a menu which seems to have set prices but the price at end will be very different!

Cafe de France is a big building on one edge of the square (sorry can't remember which) having a terrific view of the square, from the roof terrace.

I like just sitting and watching on the ground floor or the terrace... on arrival you really do feel staggered. It's like you just arrived on a magic carpet, it looks so different.

Here I want to say something about being in Morocco... Shops and restaurants and Souks are one aspect but I loved best, meeting local people. I found Moroccans very communicative - that is open about what they are thinking and feeling (both agreeable and disagreeable opinions). This feels unlike British culture which has a general tendency to constrain openness and encourage reserve. With Moroccans it is possible to enjoy a relationship which has the feel that a more established friendship would feel like in the UK, more easily and spontaneously.

So, I would say, take the opportunity to converse with people! When I went on to Essaouira, a nearby seaside town, I spent lots of time with my 'landlady'. Even though she didn't speak French or English and I don't speak Arabic or Berber! I ended up meeting her neighbours and her sister's family and it was great.]]> Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:04:04 +0000 /review/morocco/marrakech/attraction/1c94e73/jemaa-el-fna/1625i851626922 Frankie