ARE WE THERE YET?

The Derb Habib Allah is swallowed by the labriythine streets of the souks. This is where I live. Amongst both foreigners and locals. A morning greeting of Bonjour, or As Alamu Alyakum is common. A suprisingly quite neighborhood 3 minutes walk from choatic streets of shops, motos, and 100's of people.

The Derb (our neighborhood) is just around the corner from Vanessa Branson's, lux Riad El Fenn. A ten minute walk will take you through the souk to the posh gardens and offerings of Madam Branson's location. Bonjour Vanessa! The sister of sucessful Richard Branson, could Virgin Airlines be a sponsor?

I pass the Riad almost daily through the neighborhood called Laksour, to Derb Habib Allah. Quaint and typical, I've finally (5 days later) manage to escape most of the comments of local shop keepers. Accustomed to barking at tourists all day, repeatedly seeing me, they've begun to understand I'm here for a while. Luckily they seem to be bored of my ignoring their advances.

These advances are typical for any woman in a Muslim or Arabic country and this has been confirmed by local Moroccan's, who agree, it can be annoying to foreign women.

Through the Derb, our typical structure with open terrance spiraling down to the main floor. The house is never "closed". Anybody could hop a neighboring terrace and join us. The neighborhood cats use thier agility to do so. Don't worry for those Westerners, New Yorkers, and those around the world, used to bars, double locks and more......I've been assured this does not happen.

Behind tall walls, you don't see the open gardens and naturally lit homes that Moroccan structure hides. You can see in the video, a trek through a Derb, purposefully used to eliminate any confusion. This is what my walk home looks like. Rows of slim corridors with door after door. Just find your way. Well, you get the idea.

There are many attractions to the souks and the medina. Many have found it to be a shopping mecca. Still others may argue that the newer, more "money" part of  town is preferrable to the choas. New York Magazine writes about our area, going the Sarah Jessica Parker route, if you like that sort of thing. NY lists their Ten Point Escape to the who's and what's of Marrakech souks and surrounding areas.

Personally I like to oscilate between both. A moment at the Sofitel hotel, and shopping deep in the souk. The colors, styles and people watching are hard to rival, no matter where I am. In my new temporary home in "kech" simple things, like a door pattern, appeal to me. My bedroom door.

Though difficult to distinguish the small patterns and colors here, with the shooting skills of a Lumix one shot camera. I think you understand my point. This is what, state side, they pay big bucks for. And yes, they do sell them in the souk. Shipping not included. :)

More on souk life if you're interested @ Marrakech http://www.morocco-gateway.com/marrakech-souks.html and @ Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africaandindianocean/morocco/8110384/Marrakech-shopping-secrets-of-the-souks.html