Sights and Sounds of Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

I was lingering uncertainly on the edge of the crowd as mesmerised as the snakes by the music when one of them suddenly lunged towards us and then slithered across the paving stones at great speed. As one we screamed and fled. I was glad I had not paid ten dirhams to take a photo because after being chased away by the subject I had no intention of getting within shooting distance.

Snake charming was just one of the sideshows taking place in the Djemaa el Fna Square in Marrakesh, our final destination on a tour of Morocco by road and rail. We had only arrived an hour earlier and like most visitors to this city I was keen to experience the atmosphere of this square in the evening. Our group, organised by Solos Holidays arrived as the dying embers of the day cast a glow over the square. Attracted by their bright red poles I stopped to watch people fishing for soft drinks cheered on by their supporters.

I moved on working my way through pockets of mirth and music as people laughed at street performers while the beating of drums attracted their audiences. I stepped in and out of pools of light and shadow drawn towards the sizzle and scent of cooking food in the centre of a large open area. Swirls of white smoke danced above the makeshift restaurants before spiralling up into the black sky. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).