Salam aleikum Marrakech *Day2 - part1*

Day 2 in Marrakech was really awesome! We got to visit many interesting places today and I want to share so many pics from Day 2 that I decided to divide the Day2-posting into 2 parts.

But first, let's breakfast @ Riad Misria...

 

It's english breakfast everyone :) Bread with jam and butter and something that looked like 'roti canai' which I thought was quite nice (was that English or Moroccan? Hmm....)

Our first destination this morning, was Madrassa Ben Youssef.

 

Madrassa Ben Youssef  was a madrassa (in case you guys do not know, it means 'school' in Arabic) built as an act of waqaf (donation) and benefited from voluntary contributions without government intervention. One of its designated functions was to provide lodging to students from outside the city who came, for the most part, from rural areas. They received room and board and money and pursued their studies under the same conditions as they would in the great mosques of the city. It's a pity that this madrassah is no longer in operation... otherwise, I am sure it would generate more Islamic ustaz/ustazah from this country. It was closed in 1960 and was refurbished and reopen to the public as an historical site in 1982.

 

We were the first visitors to enter the madrassa that morning :) The entrance ticket is 60 Moroccan Dirham for entrance to the madrassa and museum. 

When I first entered the patio of this madrassa I immediately fall in love with this place!!!
This place is simply beaaauuuutiful! So serene....

 

 

 

 

I simply love the intricate and detailed carvings on the this madrassa's walls! And alhamdulillah we were early and gotto enjoy this place to ourselves before the crowd starts.

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

Even Izzat who hates taking pics was sporting enough to pose at this beautiful place :))
I guess this place has a magical touch on him... lol!

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm.... there's another floor up there..

 

So, let's see what's upstairs...

View from a room on the 2nd floor.... LOVE the view!

 

 

  

 

 

 

This used to be one of the rooms for the students/teachers in the madrassa. There were several rooms on the 2nd floor of this building.

We spent a few hours exploring the uniqueness of Madrassa Ben Youssef. Those who are into art and architecture would definitely love this place! 

Next was visiting the Marrakech Museum next to the madrassa.

 

Museum of Marrakech that used to be a palace (Dar Menebhi Palace - built at the end of the 19th century by Mehdi Menebhi) is also beautiful. The palace itself represents a sample of classical Andalusian architecture, with fountains in the central courtyard, traditional seating areas, a hammam and intricate colourful tilework and carvings. The museum holds exhibits of both modern and traditional Moroccan art together with fine examples of historical books, coins and pottery of Moroccan Jewish, Berber and Arab cultures. But the most upsetting fact about this museum is everything is explained in French or Arabic... no English. So.... Ana lak afham -_-

 Can I convert my house to have beautiful marbles like in this pic? Love them so much :)) I guess I was more interested in the tiles in the museum walls and floor rather than what was exhibit in it ;))

 

Do they still make this kind of door nowadays? I want one for my house! :P

 This area used to be the central courtyard/patio of the old palace. But when the museum opened in 1997, it was covered to allow for the exhibition. 

 

The covered patio. 

The chandelier is magnificent! 

 

 Not only the floor and tiles were beautifully made... the ceiling was also beautifully designed!

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

'Maa... I'm bored'. Yeah okay... I understand that you don't like museums :P

 

 

Okay okay... last pic in the museum before we leave this place :P

..... to be continued in part 2....