Day 69, 11 September 2012, Meandering in the Souks of Marrakech. We are now seasoned veterans of the walk to and from Djemma el Fna. We checked our map and decided today was the day to take a left instead of a right and we headed into the souks. Prior to departure from the serenity and security of the Riad we read a quote in the Rough Guide that resonated once we were in the souks - You will find everything in the souks of Marrakech - and you will find it several times over.... (to paraphrase). How true! Leather slipper shops sat cheek by jowl - very much a chorus of same, same - but different. Gorgeous leather bags, pretty tea glasses and antique tea pots. The most fascinating stores are the ones with old things (or if not old, then at least undusted and not so shiny - the lure of finding treasure is ever-present in my psyche). Fortunately, the luxury of buying very little and travelling relatively light is that we feel no need to purchase once in a lifetime souvenirs (though I did see a gorgeous silver metal coffee table that could have gone into my imaginary mental shipping container next to yesterday's silver bath). We steadfastly resisted the leather slipper sellers, the marquetry wood sellers, the fake quartz and fossil sellers and ventured only into a couple of small jewellery stores here and there. It being 10 Euro / 100 dirham day however, it meant not a lot of spending actually occurred. James acquired a particularly snazzy fedora for about $1.40 / 14 dirham (left over from yesterday's money). We suspect that vendor won't be chasing Australian business again anytime soon. We purchased a divine mille-fuille (vanilla slice) in the souk for about 50c (5 dirham). 2 postcards for 4 dirham, 200 grams of peanuts for 6 dirham. A kilo of green grapes for 10 dirham, a shared omelette for lunch for 15 dirham and dinner at a cafe along the alley for a massive 60 dirham. Bring on tomorrow's allocation of money! The day ended with us finishing off yesterday's Casablancan wine by the pool. If anything, for us, Marrakech is a holiday from travelling. Now isn't that a thought. ..