I’m in the busy town of Marrakesh, Morocco. Around here they drink ridiculous amounts of green tea with tons of sugar, but the country is also renowned for their strong, black coffee. A decade has passed since my last coffee in a north African country, so I figured it was about time.

Moroccan breakfast Coffee and pancakes, all you need for breakfast.

I tried my ordinary order of mezzo. The closest resemblance around here is called “noss noss”. It translates into “half and half” which is another name for the brew.

I’m not sure if Dale Cooper would call it “a damn fine cup of coffee”, but at least it has caffeine.

Marrakesh Roaming Marrakesh.

After the caffeine rush I’m ready for new adventures in Djemaa el Fna, the large square where everything happens. Originally a place where they placed chopped-off heads to scare the crowds, today it’s the main square of Marrakesh occupied by snake charmers, food stalls and all sorts of strange people from dusk till dawn.

Djemaa el Fna, Marrakesh Djemaa el Fna, Marrakesh.

I sat down at one of the balconies overlooking the square, having yet another Tajine, the ubiquitous Moroccan stew in a clay pot. But the best part is simply looking down at the spectacle. Dining on some sort of mystery meat under the stars while listening to the cacophony of sounds emanating from the square below. The tall minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque can be seen over the rooftops, chanting the voices of prayer across the open field. A magical evening.

14 comments

  • avatar
    DJ P
    18 Mar, 2008

    You are posting from the future! Coooool!

  • avatar
    Johan
    19 Mar, 2008

    Have a sip for Clarke!
    And you have to teach me that time travelling trick as well.

  • avatar
    22 Mar, 2008

    Time travelling is easy down here, since everybody move in slow motion. But it was rather the dodgy computer in the internet cafe which had odd time settings.

  • avatar
    magiqa
    22 Mar, 2008

    Poor Reine, enjoy your coffee, your orange juice and of course the cous-cous!

  • avatar
    28 Mar, 2008

    …and not to forget, the croissants!

  • avatar
    Sofia
    01 Apr, 2008

    Kaffe kaffe kaffe.
    I would also like to add: You bastard. You burn

  • avatar
    01 Apr, 2008

    Did I mention that the pancakes were delicious as well?

  • avatar
    Frida
    04 Apr, 2008

    Hehe…you are still talking about the Moroccan breakfast? Well I am too…and I still prefer my porridge oats :)
    Nice picture though…

  • avatar
    07 Apr, 2008

    الِشعر العربي

  • avatar
    08 Apr, 2008

    Tobban, are you referring to the coffee or the pancakes? Because both are poetry in their own way. :)

  • avatar
    10 Apr, 2008

    ;) Haha… U got it Reine.. (Google?)
    If I had to choose it will maybe be the pancakes… and, yes, I prefer a nice cup of Earl Grey with loads of “bergamot” oil… even if your coffee sounded just great…

  • avatar
    10 Apr, 2008

    It was quite hard to find any tea other than the mint blend they serve everywhere, but some shops had a fairly decent selection. Brought some kind of green gunpowder blend back home with me.

  • avatar
    Theresia
    20 Apr, 2008

    You forgot to mention the great freshly squeezed orange juice! :-)

  • avatar
    20 Apr, 2008

    Oh yes, Moroccan OJ is the best in the world!

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