Abdjellih and the Musician

I have often wanted to take pictures of people - except I'm rather nervous of asking them.
Apparently, years ago there was a camera that was angled somehow - but that would be a little like spying and therefore not a good idea.



Anyway, Abdjellih, who lives a little further down derb Djedid was happy to have his photo taken.
Today I will print out copies for him.
We first met him two years ago.
Like the Ancient Mariner, 'he stoppeth one in three'. Actually, in his case, pretty much everyone.
He sits on his front step and jumps up and greets you warmly. "Howareyou?Howareyou". In English.
Much shaking of hands. Much greeting in French, English and Arabic.
Last year, just after Eid el Kabir, he invited us in to meet his mother who was working in the kitchen on their slaughtered ram.



He used to be clean-shaven and wear jeans. Now he has a full beard and wears a djellahbah.
He has a brother who might be his twin.



Yesterday afternoon, when I was out buying Rheumix, a cold remedy, for Robert (how can you have a cold in May in Marrakech?), two musicians arrived outside our door.
They were playing the flute and the local children were singing.



I gave them both a small tip, but only the flautist wanted his photo taken.

Musicians in Derb Djedid

IMG_0243.JPG, originally uploaded by schmidwix2.

It was a rainy day - quite rare.
Note the utilitarian hat on the musician on the left. ..........
And the young man in the background carrying bread to the bakery up by derb Dabachi.
The owner of the bakery is very charming and always smiles and nods to us very politely.
We did not realise for a long time that he never speaks at all.
We think perhaps he is not able to.

Grand Hotel Tazi

The entrance to THE GRAND HOTEL TAZI at the end of a road that leads from Place Djemma El Fna out to a place where you can get taxis.
Stupidly, I thought "Tazi" had something to do with 'taxi' but , in fact, it's just a name.
Needless to say, as with almost anything I take a picture of, it's due for 'improvements'.
Part of the joy of Hotel Tazi is that it isn't the least bit improved.



Here some traditional musicians stand by the front entrance to entertain us.



The decor is amazing. Such a plethora of patterns. Overstuffed sofas and cut plasterwork and color upon color and pictures and who knows what else.
Glittering metallic holiday decorations hang from the ceiling.
They recently painted the main lounge and removed the yellow patina of decades' worth of nicotine stains.



Tazi's main claim to fame is that it is the place closest to Djemma El Fna that serves BEER -Heineken, Flag, Casablanca and Speciale.
Lots of people go there for exactly that reason.
Aging hippies and respectable folk and Moroccans and people who have recently been out in the desert - who you can tell by the redness of their faces.
One can sit there for hours marveling at the variety.
Taxi has a big color TV usually with the soccer on it but sometimes Arnold movies.



I mostly drink mint tea there. But they also give you lots of nuts and popcorn.
The clientele is often not in its first youth which sort of fits in with the general ambience.
Up the curving staircase, there are endless corridors with hotel rooms - lots and lots of them.
Behind the hotel there is a swimming pool which I have never swum in.