R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 8

Marrakech — Leaving Souk Laksour and Heading Back to Riad Viva

Souk Laksour

As I noted on Monday, as souks (bazaars) go, Laksour is not my favorite but it’s definitely worth a visit. Indeed, there is so much to see here that we went twice, and probably still didn’t see all of it. It’s a fun place to get out of the North African sun and browse, especially if you concentrate on the local handicrafts and wares. The tight shops, throngs of bargain shoppers, and narrow passageways may be a bit claustrophobic for some, but you’re generally never far from an ex...

Marrakech — Touring Souk Laksour

The Eyes of Marrakech Are Upon You

As bazaars (souks in the Arabic world) go, Marrakech’s Souk Laksour isn’t bad, but it’s definitely not my favorite, either. That’s not really fair, but it’s hard to compare with the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. But is it worth a trip into the souk? Most assuredly yes. It’s a fascinating place with many wares ranging from the ubiquitous CCC (Cheap Crap from China) to handcrafted gems such as leather goods, rugs, and brightly colored Turkish-style lamps.

One o...

Fun Food Friday — Dinner in Marrakech at Riad Viva

Riad Viva courtyard — entrance to the restaurant on the right

One of the things I’m just a tad bit wary of is eating in a location in which the tap water is not safe to drink. We once had an unbelievably bad experience the restaurant at a well-known, highly respected American chain hotel back in 1984 in Cairo. The culprit? The salad bar. Why? Because the produce was rinsed in local tap water. Three of the four of us had severe intestinal distress shortly thereafter. As we’d received the same ...

Marrakech — Making Our Way to Souk Laksour

Jemaa el-Fnaa (a.k.a., Piazza Principale), Marrakech

Ursula’s primary goal this trip was to head over to Jemaa el-Fnaa and the adjacent Souk Laksour, the primary souk (bazaar) in Marrakech. The plaza is about a twelve minute walk from Riad Viva, and closer to twenty when you’re recovering from knee replacement surgery and using a cane, which Ursula was. Along the way, depending upon the route you take, you’ll probably see the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque:

Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech, Moro...

Arriving at Marrakech — Riad Viva (Hotel)

Follow the signs to Riad Viva

Ursula and I took a side trip on a recent visit to Lisbon. On 8 November 2024 we flew down to Morocco for a three-night stay in Marrakech before returning to Lisbon and hoping a cruise ship back across “The Pond.” We’d both been to Morocco before, and Ursula visited Marrakech back in the late ’80s or early ’90s, but this was a first-time trip for me. So, imagine my surprise when we took a taxi to our hotel, only to be dropped off at the entrance to a nondescript ...

Random Photo Series — 25 April 2025

Currituck Lighthouse; Corolla, Outer Banks, North Carolina

Random travel photo series Week Twenty-Three:

Ulysses S. Grant Memorial; Washington, D.C. Lounging on Cape Hattaras; Hattaras Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina Colonial Williamsburg; Williamsburg, Virginia

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Random Photo Series — 23 April 2025

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

Random travel photo series Week Twenty-Three:

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

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Random Photo Series — 21 April 2025

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

Random travel photo series Week Twenty-Three:

Ryan “Spirit of St. Louis” NYP (N-X-211); National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C. Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

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Random Photo Series — 18 April 2025

Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

Random travel photo series Week Twenty-Two:

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

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Random Photo Series — 16 April 2025

Colonial Williamsburg; , Williamsburg, Virginia

Random travel photo series Week Twenty-Two:

U.S. Capitol Building; Washington, D.C. Barn Owl; Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia

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