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Article: Marrakech: city of souks, snakes and side trips.(taste life: TRAVEL)(Travel narrative)
- Article from:
- Investigate
- Article date:
- September 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Howling At The Moon Publishing Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
MARRAKECH, MOROCCO -- Smoke rises like thin clouds above the Jemaa El Fna, the public square at the center of Marrakech. It is dusk, and white-robed food vendors tame hissing flames as they grill kebabs, simmer sheep heads and saute snails.
The music is hypnotic. Berbers, the original inhabitants of Morocco, play long, mystical strains of a percussive groove, while the Gnawa, descendants of the Sudan, draw throngs of tourists with their drum-and-bass beats. Snake charmers and transvestite belly dancers compete for the camera, while a shoeless girl begs for money.
The scene is the most intense blend of sights, sounds and ...