A short five day stay in Marrakesh between workshops was a lot of hectic fun. The city is a labyrinth of busy, narrow alley ways lined with merchants trying hard to sell stuff. The bicycles, donkey carts and pedestrians all seem lost and in a hurry.

Everything stationary eventually acquires the red/brown color of the desert which makes the colorful products of the merchants appear brighter and more saturated. It is a fantastic looking city with spectacular sunsets and sunrises.

We hired a driver to take us up into the Atlas Mountains to see some of the small villages. The driver was recommended by the people running the riad we stayed in. He was great – he knew what we wanted to see and avoided the tourist places where everyone wants to sell you something or sit you on a camel.

Morocco is still suffering after the earthquake that struck the country a year ago. Many buildings were destroyed or damaged and rebuilding is still going on in Marrakesh and in some of the small villages up in the Atlas Mountains. Concrete block is replacing the traditional mud and terracotta brick, but they are rendered and painted the earth color of the original materials so the repairs are not too obvious.

I would love to visit some of the small villages on the flat country around Marrakech but five days is just not long enough!