At our riad’s rooftop breakfast area, a member of the staff prepared  individual crepes stuffed with cheese and honey for us, grilling them until the cheese melted a bit. I’ve got to try doing that at home! That same staff member loved to tell funny stories. One of his stories will be told at the end of the final episode of this blog.

We  left Ouarzazate and were on the road for five hours,  going through the High Atlas Mountains, at the highest altitude of our trip: more than 7,000 feet. Many in our group made purchases at the shops adjacent to the rest areas. Nick was always happy when we stopped somewhere that sold ice cream.

We reached our hotel in Marrakesh at about 1  pm. We would have a different bus and driver for the remainder of our trip. We said our farewells to Mohammed, who had been a very safe driver, and who helped those of us who needed it, getting on and off the bus several times each day.   For lunch, Nick and I chose a salad that included   vegetables, cheese, and olives, of course. The main course was braised beef with vegetables, followed by fruit salad for dessert.

Then our group met in the lobby to begin our exploration of the area.  We walked through the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had to walk very  carefully, because along with us pedestrians, there were  bicycles and motor bikes coming from all directions,  working their way through the crowd. I spotted a store that might have a pin for my hat. It did! I showed it to Hassan, and he was disappointed that it wasn’t bigger, nor was it in the center of the pins on my hat. I assured him that I would move it once we were away from the crowd.

Also in the medina, there were snake charmers and their snakes, food stalls of all kinds, hawkers selling items including New York Yankees baseball caps, sunglasses, leather shoes, hijabs, earrings, teapots, spices, olives, lamps, and wooden camels of all kinds. Taking it all in was a sensory explosion.

We walked to the Palais Royale, and although we  arrived at closing time, Hassan  asked the director to let us go inside. The Palais was absolutely gorgeous. I  especially liked the ceilings and the gardens, and the peacefulness of being there was such a contrast to the sights and sounds in the medina.

Walking back from the palace we stopped at a spice shop, where were offered tea while the manager demonstrated his products that included spices and skin care products.

For dinner, some of our group ordered Moroccan food, while others chose American (a club sandwich). Nick and I weren’t particularly hungry. We shared a Peach Melba.

9400 steps?