Marrakesh: Getting settled

February 6, 2025

We arrived in Marrakech in the afternoon. We bought Fast Track entry because we had heard horror stories of 3 hour lineups to get through customs. Fast Track met us at the gate and they did get us past immigration quickly by taking us through the line for people with mobility issues. However, they left us at the baggage area and we had to wait for our bike boxes- there was no short cut to getting our bags into the country (they went through what looked like an x-ray machine). The Fast Pass wasn't worth the money for us. I think if you landed on a busy holiday it probably be worth it but when we landed it wasn't very busy and I think we would have been through immigration about the same times our bikes arrived. Our taxi was waiting for us and was able to drive us to within a block of Riad Cannelle ($95 with breakfast). We chose Rioad Cannelle because they agreed to hold our bike boxes while we traveled. That is how we choose our first hotel when we travel. We also had them arrange an airport pickup because the last thing we want to do after 15 hours of flying is find and negotiate a taxi. And, I have to admit I really like seeing my name upon a cardboard sign when I wheel a cart laden with bicycle boxes out into the inevitable chaos of taxi drivers. I think it was around $25 for the taxi and the hotel paid it so we didn't have to immediately go to an ATM at the airport.

The riad was conveniently located to the souk so that evening we walked to the square. The activity in the square was almost overwhelming- snakes, music, food, scooters. And, we had to go to 3 ATMs before someone directed us to one that worked. The whole evening was a pretty good introduction to just how exotic Morroc was.

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