Aris Vrakas' photostream  

The Moroccan Berber live in patriarch families. The husband takes care of men business and the woman does all the house-hold work, cleaning, cooking, taking care of all the children etc.

A quick distraction from the beauty of Marrakesh's landscapes previously posted. This is a Berber woman at home carrying her baby.

Minutes after sunset Marrakech transforms from a market-place targeting mainly tourists to a busy randez-vous point for thousands of locals and tourists browsing the main street for people-watching and socializing for the young.

By this time the map folding, carpet carrying, bargain hunting fleeced tourists are probably heading towards their hotel or the nearest 5 star restaurant which costs the price of a donkey for a local.

This is a 32 Megapixel composite tone-mapped panorama.

In the center of the Djemaa el Fna square - the main square of Marrakech - you'll find Moroccans of all origins, Berber, Jewish, Arabs and Touareg. A vibrant and mixed population with over 1,000 of history, and some pretty extraordinary traditions - like snake charming.

I spotted a rattle-snake and a king cobra. Can any one tell me what the other one is?

What I loved most about this scene is not so much the snake-charming - but that this is their life - this is what they do - this is not a show - they live and breath this life. This is their Marrakech

Marrakech is an amazing vibrant city in the south, mountainous side of Morocco. It's name in ancient times meant "pass through quickly" because caravans used to get fleeced. This is still true. Marrakech is a place of wonder - edgy and at times dangerous - so when you get lost in the Medina and the little Souks - the tiny red streets of Marrakech within the old city, where you can just about fit a 2 shops merchandise, a donkey, an old scouter and a freaked out tourist jumping for their life :).

When you're lost in the Souks, the shopkeepers and the nicer locals will point you to the Djemaa el Fna square. When you're back at the square - you know you're not lost anymore.

The square is a wonder in it self - with all sorts of wild and rare creatures coming at you - but I'll comment on that on the next upload....