bauhauswerk

Dear Coilers, do you know Stefano? You don’t? Never mind. Stefano was asked by a friend if he lives in the past and future or here and now. Stef told him: “Bro! I live in the Whenthef@%kIwant!”

He was wrong, of course (🙄) as he does live in the past and the future, like all of us.

As I’m not familiar with writing philosophical articles ill stick to an ancient form of philosophical dialogue. Let’s see where will it take us to...

Prologue: Stefano (S) and his friend (F) are floating in a lifeboat in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, somewhere in the half way between Italy and Croatia. A friend is in panic, loudly thinking and discussing what they should do NOW while Stefano is just watching the sea while opening a beer, one of which, he saved from the sunk sailboat...

F: How can you drink beer now? You should better think of what we should do now!

S: There is no water in a lifeboat.

F: There is no water because you put a case of beer in lifeboat and sailboat had sunk before you reached for water!

S: Why havent you taken water with you instead of your iPhone and wallet?

F: We need phone to call for help.

S: There is no signal and your battery is at 13%

F: It’s at 13% because you were charging your camera and laptop, thats why we dont have full battery now.

S: If you knew the sailbot would sink you could have charged it on time. Why haven’t you?

F: I didnt know. And you know that.

S: So you agree that it wasn’t a problem in me charging camera and laptop?!

F: It doesn’t matter now.

S: That’s what I say as well. Now doesn’t matter.

F: What do you think by now doesn’t matter? Do you live here and now or in the past or maybe in the future?

S: I think that it just doesn’t matter. I live in the Whenthef@%kIwant! Here and Now is overvalued. It is all about the past and the future.

F: It does matter! What we do now will influence our future.

S: What we do now will be past in the very next moment. So whatever we do now will be a decision we made in the past to form our future. Which will also be past when it happens.

F: But here and now we have to act. We can’t act in the past nor we can act in future.

S: We can only act in future from the perspective of here and now! If I decide to open another beer (while throwing empty bottle in the sea) it will be act I’ll do in the future. Even if the part of the process of opening beer is now, the moment the beer is open will mean that it was opened in the past!

F: So you say that there is no now?

S: We can say that now is a border on which future becomes past. And it is even not a definite line. To make it easier, there is no now.

F: So you say we should live in the past or the future?

S: We should make future decisions which we won’t regret when they become the past. As the consequences of the past decisions will turn into consequences we suffered from in the past.

F: This means we can change the past by changing decisions we make for the future?!

Dear Coilers, not all trends should be followed blindly. Something healthy for you can be deadly for others...

Not long ago, nineteen dead bodies were found of which nine hanging over the bridge in Uruapan in Mexico. Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) left the warning telling dear people to carry on with their daily routine. Nothing new in Mexican cartel wars as just last year about 40000 people were killed in their clashes.

New thing thou is a fact that they do not decapitate each others enemies over drugs and weapons but because of avocadu marked share.

Mega popular fruit pays better than cocaine these days. There is no popular healthy diet without it and every single nutritionist has avocado among the first on the list of “must eat” things.

Avocado is absolute hit, the price pumping constantly and still there are not enough avocados to feed hungry mouths. American media inform that restaurants can’t get enough of that fruit so they substitute it with other ingredients to keep meals prices on acceptable levels and meet the demand.

Hot and dry season skyrocketed the price for over 130% in last one year period.

Luckily, harvesting season started in September so demand will be met easier. But during summer, rastaurants had to use combination of squash, olive oil, mexican tomatillos and jalapeño peppers to get like guacamole thing. Calabacita squash serves best here as the texture and taste is similar to avocado. Thou many are faking avocado guacamole and serve the squash one instead not telling customers what they really get. Avocado became so valuble that the blood is spilled for it so deceiving people isnt much of a crime here.

Americans get avocado almost exclusively from Mexico, about 99%. 80% of that comes from Michoacan, Mexican state with one of the highest crime rates and severest cartel wars. Uruapan, mentioned in the beginning of the article, is the second biggest city in it.

Every fourth truck carrying avocado is stolen as “avocado industry” is worth billions of dollars and it became too attractive to cartels so corpses from the fight over that market are not to be unexpected.

Thou state attorney told that mantioned nineteen corpses are part of the drug market war, more and more people who follow the situation admit that it was about avocado. At least twenty armed gangs are fighting for their piece in that new “gold digging” business. As none of the cartels can win that war, it is expected that number of casualties will grow each day.

To control of the Uruapan market, at least three cartels are fighting: CJNG, Templar Knights and Las Viagras which is a part of big organisation Nueva Familia Michoacana.

President Felipe Calderon started strong fight against organised crime and new president, Andres Manuel alopez Obrador won the elections last year with promises about new strategy in that fight but it apparently didnt stop the blood from spilling on a daily basis.

Official data confirms over 17500 deaths in the first half of 2019, 963 in Michoacan only.

President formed new and well armed National Guard thou, but most of Guard’s members are protecting southern parts of Mexico from illegal immigrants so just part of it is fighting against those cartels.

Mexican farmers are in wierd situation; demand for their products is higher than ever but they cant work and earn doing legal business as the distribution and control over the market is in hands of criminals. They say that government is not doing anything to help them.

If they want to stay in business they have to share earnings with cartels which are not able to provide protection to farmers as they are in constant war for the territories.

So having avocado in your healthy meal is not that healthy for the people who work hard to enable you to follow trends.

THINK!

Dear Coilers, after my article about ethics in street photography was chosen as one of the Coil Staff Picks of the week, and their comment was a hint of what I should write about, I had nothing but to continue with the photography series...

In the article I will use mobile phone photos, apart from one, without a try for them to look “good” or “artistic”. I want you to see the difference in “point and shoot” photos

I’ll talk about the way in which photo can highlight details in the world around us.

Most of the pics, of which millions are taken and published each day, are more or less the same. Frames with food ordered in a restaurant, happy family during youngest kids birthday or a person in the front with some world known scene behind which will hopefully bring likes on social media.

(Schoenbrun castle in Vienna, for those who don’t know, in an awful “for social media” photo with my stupid face in front)

You who read my articles want to be different. You want to learn how to take photos which are the same but different so your work would be noticed among zillions of the same pics with the same #hashtags.

(Cut grass looks much more interesting in the second pic, doesnt it?)

The answer is simple. COME CLOSER OR CROP (Which will bring subject closer)!

Details are what we all notice, knowingly or subconsciously but we do. Discovering interesting details makes you happy.

Have you ever wondered why the biggest marketing minds take care of details more than of the first impression? It stays in your mind. Subconscious is bigger deal than you think. (Btw have you known that my graduate thesis in my economics studies was “Internet Marketing”? I know you haven’t but still...)

The first term which crosses photographers mind, when details are topic, is MACRO photography. But as these articles aren’t made for pros but for people who simply love photography and want to be better in taking them, we will skip that macro thing here.

Macro photos are taken with macro lenses (or micro as Nikon calls them) and those are more than what everyday Jane and Joe own, and cost more than they are willing to pay to own, we will stick to photos taken with equipment Jane and Joe have. (In future I’ll cover macro photography without macro lenses but that’s another topic.)

So we have to frame the scene to highlight details and simply crop it.

You have to observe the world arround you and notice things which look appealing. Choose them to be the main subject in the photo and try to frame them the way that when you crop the pic the position of the subject respects the rules of photography.

Too complicated? OK, let us put it in more simple way... the shot we take will contain more than we want to have in final photo. So we have to position the subject the way that when we crop the pic we can position it at the 1/3 of the frame, in the very middle... yet not to overcrop and loose other stuff we want to keep

(Pilgrim from Ghana, one of my dearest portraits, serves fine as an example of cropping to transfer photo from the “atmosphere” portrait into a more personal one)

When cropping the pic we bring subject closer and it is filling the frame so we highlight it that way. Important thing here is to put focus on the subject to isolate it from the backgroud which should be blured (bokeh thing, you know..). Here we have to take the DEPTH OF FIELD in consideration and try to frame the photo the way we dont catch things which are in the same plane with the subject as if we do it, things surrounding the subject in cropped photo will be in focus and the and pic wont look the way we want.

Dear Coilers, have you ever been thinking about the people you are close to, you care for, you are connected with?

I know heaps and heaps of people but I am close to just a few.

My best friend is Goran, a doctor who is mentally unhealthy and whose illness gives me hard time more often than not but he is my best friend and I will tolerate him no matter what he does and how unbearable he sometimes is. He is my best friend, as simple as that.

Ivana, Vedran and Tomislav are my friends I know from kindergarten. We attended primary school together and Ivana and I were in the same class in high school. Life took us apart but we are in contact and we see each other at least during summer when Vedran comes back from Hong Kong and all of us set to have a free week to meet and have time together. Those are people which I can meet after a year and we all have a feeling that we had our last drink together yesterday. If you have that feeling with some people keep them in your life. They are your FRIENDS.

Then there are Marko and Hrvoje, my friends from high school. We’ve been thru a lot together. I dont see them as often as I’d like to but we keep strong contact and our friendship will never end. Then Mijo, Edo and Marko2...

I have to mention Đuro and Nikola, among my most loyal friends. Imagine having a friend who runs insurance agency yet he never talked about insurance policys to you. Impossible?! Nikola is like that to me. And he runs an insurance agency.

But here i wanted to talk about the people I’ve never met yet they’ve become close to me. Those are people from Content Builders Club. There are not many of us in the Club but we hang together 24/7. Being Coil content creators is what brought us together but thru time we started talking about everyday things and getting to know each other better and better. Until one day Patricia started calling us a family.

It made me thinking. Those people really became close to me. We all cared about The Boss getting a job he applied for. About Sandra being positive and her help to people who have problems... we even don’t care for Stefano being Italian or, even worse, Macro being Canadian! Imagine that!! 😃

(No matter we being that tolerant, I havent mentioned many of the members of the family and this way I tell them they all are as important and dear to me and thankful for having me the way I am.)

The point is, you never know when will life connect you with the people you never ever could have think of meeting. They just enter into your life and you get used to them. You get to know their problems and their successes, their favourite food, Lambo or Ferrari choice... PooF they become part of your everyday life and you take it as a fact. Just like your family. But different.

People I’ve never met are here now. I’m happy they are here and I hope the day will come when we will meet in “non virtual” way. And have a feeling like we know each other for ages and the last drink we had together was yesterday.

Dear Coilers, have you known that the Capital of the Seven Kingdoms wasn’t burnt, they’ve fooled you all. Thou they’ve tried to during the Croatian War for Independence but the stone walls and people within them were too big bite as they were throughout the history.

It is the town I got my name from, Srđan, from the Srđ hill above it.

Dubrovnik, one of the pearls of Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, is here for centuries, 15 of them at least, the time which the first settlement dates from.

The successful development of Dubrovnik in the past was conditioned primarily by its favorable geographical position, and by an economy based on maritime and merchant activities.

When entering the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is the first island-protected port on the maritime route going from east to west, with quick access to the hinterland by way of the Neretva Valley. Latest archaeological research has shown that a settlement dating to the 6th century or probably even earlier existed under todays city. It expanded with the arrival of the Croats in the 7th century, following the abandonment of ancient Epidaurus (todays Cavtat).

The intensification of traffic between the East and West both during and after the Crusades resulted in the development of maritime and mercantile centers throughout the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea in the 12th and 13th century. Dubrovnik was one of them. The Zadar Treaty in 1358 liberated Dubrovnik from Venetian rule, and it was crucial to the successful furthering of its development. The remaining Dalmatian towns failed to achieve this, so that they definitely fell under Venetian rule in the year 1420.

Already during the 14th and 15th century, Dubrovnik was the most significant maritime and mercantile center of the Adriatic, alongside Venice and Ancona. Dubrovnik expanded its territory by using contracts and by purchasing land from Klek in the north to Sutorina at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, including the islands of Mljet, Lastovo, Elaphite and Lokrum.

The legal status of the Dubrovnik Republic was completely achieved by the 15th century. This meant the independent election of a rector and councilors, the minting of currency, a state flag with an image of St. Blaise, independent legislature, and the right to establish consulates abroad. According to the aristocratic constitution, the state authority was based on the Great Council, which was made up of Dubrovnik aristocratic families.

They, in turn, appointed the members of the Senate and the Small Council, which was the executive body of the Great Council. The Rector was appointed on a monthly basis as a nominal symbol of authority.

Already in the 15th century, Dubrovnik had a well-organized transit trade route with the Balkan hinterland. In 1525, due to the stronger Turkish expansionist policies in the Balkans, the Dubrovnik Republic decided to accept Turkish tutelage and the payment of tribute. However, in return, they obtained the right to free trade throughout the Turkish Empire, with a customs duty of only 2%.

This small state, which had no army of its own, brought its defensive mechanism to perfection using skilful diplomacy and broad consular activities. It managed to preserve its independency by maintaining neutrality in international conflicts, and by using the tutelage of powerful countries, especially that of Spain and the Vatican. The Venetian Republic was its only permanent rival and enemy.

The Dubrovnik Republic entered its golden age in the 16th century, at a time when the power and glory of the Venetian Empire was on the wane. Its prosperity was based on maritime trade. In the 16th century, the Dubrovnik merchant navy matched world levels with its quality fleet of 180 to 200 ships. Increasingly larger types of ships were being built, such as galleys, coasters and navas. These ships were taking on increasingly longer and more dangerous journeys throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as ocean journeys to northern ports in England and Germany, even as far as India and the Americas. Dubrovnik became world-renowned and sought after for the transport of cargo, which included very diverse maritime and trade affairs.

Material prosperity, and the feeling of security and freedom, helped shape a humanist culture that further inspired ardent creativity. Dubrovnik reached magnificent levels of achievement in its urban and architectural development that has been maintained to the present day, in its literature and poetry (Marin Držić, Ivan Gundulić), science (Ruđer Bošković), and in many other fields of art and culture.

In the 17th century, the general crisis in Mediterranean maritime affairs also affected Dubrovnik maritime trade. The catastrophic earthquake of 1667 brought the Dubrovnik Republic into a critical period, where it fought for its survival and political independence. The 18th century gave Dubrovnik an opportunity for the economic revival of maritime trade under a neutral flag. This was the state of affairs when Napoleon dissolved the Dubrovnik Republic in 1808.

At the Vienna Congress in 1815, the Dubrovnik region was joined to the other parts of Dalmatia and Croatia. Since then, they have shared a common political fate.

Trivia: Dubrovnik was the first state in the world to recognise the United States of America, in 1783

Following the Republic of Croatias declaration of independence and subsequent Serbian aggression on Croatian territory, Dubrovnik was attacked in October of 1991. The Serbians and the Montenegrins aimed to conquer and destroy the region, attacking with a destructive force that had never been seen so far. The Dubrovnik region was occupied and significantly devastated. In the 8-month siege, the city itself was repeatedly bombarded. The most brutal destruction occurred on December 06th, 1991.

(Youtube video for those who want to see)

https://youtu.be/jogRQF1DwYw

Today, the war-devastated cultural heritage of Dubrovnik has been repaired for the most part. The renovated hotels, the important assets of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, as well as other cultural events are crucial prerequisites for the development of modern tourism.

Dear Coilers, this is not going to be the article you could expect from me but I feel I have to say a few words about Coil and the opportunity it gives to its creators.

Last few days I’ve seen great joy in Coil Creators community as a few of new faces got into a boost program and have recived first boosts in their wallets.

I’ve started writing on Coil some time ago. As a member of XRP Community, active on Twitter, I’ve heard about Coil since they’ve started their story but I haven’t been researching it much. The time passed and I wanted to read some articles from some of the XRP Community members so I’ve created the account. And it just clicked in my head, which isn’t too big but as I’ve gained some weight last year it became a bit bigger. Brain must have taken a bit of fat as well and started working better and the brain manager told me I could write an article or two to do my part in all that XRP thing.

So I did. Was thinking about the niche I could cover and decided to do photography and travel themes.

I’ve published few articles and it made me happy. I was writing in the past. Was a payed writer for several magazines and portals, one of which was of the multinational mobile operator company, Ta-Ta-TÁ-Ta! on portal of which, in my country, I had a column. With a photo.

And few articles later... I’ve checked XRPTIPBOT and have seen the number which wasn’t to be there. Thought someone sent the amount by mistake and wanted to contact Master Wietse to ask him to research the transaction and return it to one who sent it. A few minutes later I got a mail from Coil... WOW

I know that you have to be genious to make something like Coil but haven’t thought that they are such big geniuses to discover that brilliant mind writing for them that fast and push him to write even more and better. OK if better it would get me a Nobel prize and being introvert as I am, it stops me from doing so.

Then one day I’ve noticed few tweets about the Coil Blogging Club. Some guy told me to contact some other guy and I have. It turned out I’ve sent DM to The Boss who opened the doors of the Club for me. A Club of loonies who are passionate about writing/drawing/cooking/programming/... and wanting to put their passions into articles published on Coil.

A month passed and 30 days challenge with it (in which I wasn’t qualified to participate but I have as well as all other members) and BOOM... a few members got in the boost program. I was happy to read the posts of people whose work was found good enough to enter. Yet there are more of them who deserve it as much...

These days I’m The bodyguard and a bouncer in da Club and am proud to be a member of it...

...and plan to stay one.

Thanks to Coil and CBC I have rediscovered my writing gift and I would suggest every Coiler to try the same. As we are all part of the XRP family, this is the way to give our two cents (and maybe get a few more in return) to help the asset we believe in to reach that circle of light which shines above our planet every night.

Dear Coilers, as you might have noticed, I’ve covered my trip to Morocco with the diary written and published exclusively for/on Coil.

This table of contents will make easier, to present and future subscribers, to navigate thru the articles of the diary which, I hope, will be read by both, Coilers who love travel blogs/vlogs and future travelers who could find those articles helpful to prepare their trip better.

Like everything else, every trip begins with preparation. No matter long or short one, you have to choose the destination and begin from it.

So my Morocco trip diary for Coil began with the article about preparations.

Day 1 covered the trip from Zagreb, Croatia to Marrakech, Morroco bringing you videos ot the flight, drive thru Marrakech and the main square

On Day 2 I took you to El Badi Palace and on a walk thru the city to Katoubia mosque and dinner on Jemaa El Fnaa

Day 3 brought visit to Saadian Tombs, beautiful Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent museum all of which was covered with photos and videos like you used to get from me.

On Day 4 i took the trip to Essaouira, beautiful town on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean

Day 5 was in Essaouira as well where I took you to the fish market, walk on the city walls and arround the medina

On Day 6 the 3 day trip to Sahara Desert had begun. It was the trip from Marrakech to Tinghir during which we have seen Tizi-Nticha Pass and the High Atlas Mountains, Ait-Ben-Haddou, Ouazazate and Kasbah Taourirte

Day 7 was definite highlight of all Morocco experience in which we visited Todra Gorge, one of the world most spectacular canyons and have riden camels in Merzouga, watched sunset in Sahara Desert and watched night sky full of stars from the top of the dune

Dear Coilers, after a longer series of travel articles from my trip to Morocco, I’ve come to an idea to write this article in my photography series...

When I planned my trip I had in mind that I’ll return with many pics of the street life in that wonderful country. I knew that taking photos of people is not that easy there as it is in Europe (or other western countries) but I haven’t had a clue that it would be such a big problem.

For example, see the reaction of this fish seller with white cap in Essaouira fish market. The thing I’ve noticed when editing a video from there but I’ve noticed similar reactions many times when shooting with DSLR.

https://youtu.be/BF8zxmf635M

Being photographed is not something the community likes, particularly women. It's best to ask before you film or take photo to avoid having your camera damaged, or offending the locals.

Taking street photos is fun but one behind the camera has to be aware that some people don’t like being photographed. That problem have both photo journalists and random tourists who want to bring shots from the streets of the country they visit.

Here we come to the question is it legal and is it moral. Taking pics in public places is legal and you are free to take a shot of whatever you want unless it is forbidden and there is a sign of “no photo” which is mostly put in front of some government, secret services or army facilities. But is it moral?!

Yes, it is legal to take a shot of any sight you find interesting, buildings or people but the moral issue is always present. The question each photographer should ask himself is “would I be OK with someone taking that pic of me?” If the answer is yes then feel free to take it. If you are not sure, ask, if the answer is no just dont take it, unless you are a Balkan guy like me. Or just show the sigh to person you want to take the photo of, thumb up... one will show you thumb up back or wave hand saying NO! If NO, respect it. Wave back that you’ve noticed reluctance and search for another frame.

I myself dont like being photographed much. I look like an idiot in most of the non set pics. Not that i look better in those which are set. So I mostly avoid shots and if I am taken pic of, I ALWAYS ask for the authorisation. So if someone lets you take a portrait, show the photo/s. People like to see how they look in the pic. Ask them for email to send them a photo and that way you’ll get some points on that moral side. This way you’ll buy the ticket to paradise once your time comes.

BUT, if you ask for permit and person says yes, you won’t have non set photo as when one knows is taken photo of, tries to look as good as possible and you lose that non set feeling. Photos taken without permission are more genuine, at least I think they are, but even set street photos can be of great, or at least some, artistic value.

So what to conclude here?! Id say it this way, be prepared to be confronted by your subject, be prepared to take a punch and be forced to delete the photo you’ve taken but DO the work you want to. In the end, as a street photographer you are a journalist and being one can be dangerous sometimes.

The most important thing is that you enjoy what you do and don’t let anyone spoil your joy

Dear Coilers, I’m back to Croatia but there are few more things I have to cover. Here is a story about souks, visit of which was part of almost every day of the trip but...

...the last full day of the Morocco trip was left for buying souvenirs and exploring parts of medina which are a bit off the main square area...

If you want to shop in Morocco there’s no better place for it than souks in Medinas.

Medinas are old parts of the towns surrounded with walls and are historic parts of all old settlements in arabian world. Medina is devided in Quartiers which have a mosque, a hammam (public bathhouse), a madrasa (a school, religious one) and a water fountain...

Souks are traditional marketplaces and to western people they look like a maze of wider and narrow streets, alleys, tunnels, and are places in which on can easily get lost so you should look for some landmarks to help you navigate thru them.

Usually they are devided in sections which host shops of similar trades. So if you enter a part with spice, instruments, clothes, shoes, carpets... or other shops, there is a big chance that 90% of the shops in the area sell same goods.

As souks are market places you should be prepared for sellers trying to sell you their stuff. And their way of trying is a bit different than western way. You will be called from every single shop, some will step in front of you, some will show you examples of goods straight in the face, some will block you the way but none will be too aggressive so you feel uncomfortable. You have many ways to show them you are not interested but the best ways are loudly saying it or completely ignoring them. Don’t be afraid, they’ll not harm you.

BUT don’t let them see you looking interested in some item as they will do anything to sell it to you. And don’t ask for the price nor start negotiating it if you don’t want to buy. Just don’t!

If you want to buy something be prepared for the initial price to be very high and there starts the bargain. Dont be afraid to offer 1/5 of their price but always have in mind the price you are willing to pay. If you agree with the seller, do not go away without doing business, especially if you shake hands. If you play the game, play it till the end. It’s a matter of honour.

Souks are packed with people and there are mopeds and wagons with donkeys and mules all around you and they don’t care for you, just trying to avoid you. Make it easier by walking on the right side (not the rule in Fes thou) no matter how narrow streets are or how packed.

If you get lost, which you surely will, don’t follow “guides” which will come from nowhere offering you help. They will most probably take you to the shop they get commission from or ask for money for “helping” you. Just enter any store or restaurant and owner will help you.

https://youtu.be/A-CJqFHOKek

Don’t take photos of people if you don’t ask them first and get their permission. If you do it anyway, try to look like you are pointing somewhere else. Zoom lens can be very handy here.

Anyway, souks are fun. Enjoy them if you visit, dont make them loose your mind and ruin your holiday.

Thanks for reading and watching,

Srdan

As the trip comes to an end, the flight back is what’s left...

Dear Coilers, the Morocco trip is coming to its end, the last night in Marrakech and back to Europe in the mornig. This is not going to be the last one as I plan to cover the trip with some thematic photo articles with pics from DSLR.

Today I have visit El Bahia Palace, souks, Ben Youssef Madrasa, tanneries and Jemaa el Fnaa in the evening to taste the only Moroccan dish that was left on the list of must try food. Tanneries I have visit for my professional interest as I have small business of strap making. For those who don’t know, I am (among others) a strapmaker and I make handmade watch straps, among the best in the world (not my words), that’s why I had to visit them but are not gonna be covered in the article as the only thing interesting for people here would be disgusting smell which can’t be produced through this medium.

Ben Youssef Madrasa was closed for renovation so I could only take the photo of the school’s door which, at least, look interesting.

The only really interesting sight was El Bahia Palace. The palace of Bahia (palace of the beautiful, the brilliant) is a nineteenth century palace on eight hectares. It is one of the masterpieces of Moroccan architecture, one of the major monuments of the country’s cultural heritage and one of the main places of tourism in Morocco.

Between 1866 and 1867 the northern part of this palace is built in the south-east of the medina of Marrakech, close to the current royal palace, by the Moroccan architect El Mekki. It is built for Si Moussa, chamberlain of Sultan Hassan I of Morocco.

Ahmed ben Moussa (1841-1900, son of Si Moussa, successor to his father as chamberlain) reign over Morocco from 1894 to his demise in 1900 as regent of the young sultan Abd al-Aziz of Morocco. During his reign, Ahmed ben Moussa enlarged the southern part of the official palace. The powerful Ahmed Ben Moussa would have erected this palace for his favorite mistress, hence the name of Bahia “the beautiful, the brilliant”.

At the death of Ben Moussa, Sultan Abd al-Aziz of Morocco takes power and orders the looting of the palace. In the latter established French protectorate in Morocco, under which General Lyautey, resident general of France in Morocco (future Marshal of France) El Bahia was his personal place of residence and a residence of French officers. They have added fireplaces, heating and electricity.

https://youtu.be/bjAFIeqvEyE

(2:03 video of El Bahia Palace)

After El Bahia I have rumbled the souks buying some souvenirs for family and friends and was looking for some traditional Moroccan sweets for my father. Wherever I travel, I try to bring some local sweets to him as my dad is world biggest fan of sugar, no matter in which form it comes.

I had a mint tea on a terrace of a bar and went back to hotel to rest a bit on a pool and soak the last rays of Moroccan Sun.

In the evening I went back to Jemaa el Fnaa, the main square for a dinner.