This morning we decided we wanted to discover the new town of Marrakech, so we took a taxi to the city centre.
NOTE: If you ever take a taxi in Marrakech, give a written address to the driver to avoid any confusion if a language barrier occurs.
The city centre was a combination of old traditional Morocco and the new upcoming Marrakech. We first stopped off at a modern coffee shop/restaurant called Le Table du Marche where we enjoyed some very English afternoon tea.
We later discovered the high street shops of Marrakech, as well as the city's market.
It contained stalls of handmade jewellery, demonstrations of woodwork made with a chisel and a man's feet and a painter painting his art for his stall. This market was located right in the middle of the modern city centre.
We then carried on to discover the more traditional elements of the new town. The inside market, Marrakech Cuir, was a two story shop stocked with both intricate and eccentric goods. The market sold everything from delicate silverware to cast iron lion statues. I made sure to purchase some handmade pieces from the market as souvenirs.
That night we spent enjoying a mixture of moroccan and western world foods and acoustic music in the hotel.
The hotel deserves every one of it's four (plus) stars. The staff really make the hotel a relax, happy environment with their attentive and polite nature.
Waking up in Morocco was something I'd been waiting to do for what seemed a lifetime. Walking onto my balcony in the morning heat of this African country was every bit as blissful as I'd imagined.
In the morning we had a talk from the hotel reps who gave us the valuable knowledge we need to take on the beautiful city. They explained the two sides to Marrakech that we were able to explore.
The old town of Marrakech was where the history, attraction and raw culture could be found, as well as the beautiful architecture and some of the most poverty stricken residential areas in the city.
The new town was a thriving, upcoming modern commercialised district. European style shopping malls were at the centre of this area.
We spent the afternoon around the gorgeous pool taking full advantage of the all inclusive food and drink!
In the evening we walked ten minutes out of the hotel to the local cash and carry, (similarly to a Costco store in England but much more diverse.) The store was a hub for families to shop for their weekly supplies. Fresh fish, fruit and spices on display brought colour and a fusion of Moroccan smells to the store. As expected the prices of products were cheap and so different to those in the UK.
NOTE: We learnt alcohol is not sold in supermarkets after 8pm.
Our second night in Morocco had been just as serene as the first with wine and acoustic musicians carrying us into the early hours of the morning.
Morocco. Could a country and city that I had been dreaming about travelling to my whole life, live up to the expectations I had already made of it?
I had already researched Morocco, to the extent of feeling like I had travelled there ten times over. So, when we finally arrived it was more surreal than I'd ever imagined.
The first thing that struck me in Morocco was the beauty of my surroundings. Even the airport was an architectural haven. It is hard the describe such beauty in words.
After collecting our bags at the airport, we used the toilets. A basic necessity that couldn't have appeared more confusing! Toilet attendants (or so they appeared to be) stood underneath the free toilets sign asking for money. I had no change to give but my guilt subsided quickly when I realised the toilets were yet to be attended to. Soap dispensers were empty and toilets blocked but I didn't let this ruin my excitement.
As to be expected by Thomson/First Choice the transfer to the hotel was informative and tailored to our 'platinum' Thomson package.
When we arrived at our hotel, we were greeted by the staff with cocktails and guided to our first meal of the trip, a Moroccan style buffet. After having our bags carried to our room, we explored the hotel.
The outside bar terrace that overlooked the pool, was made lively by a local duo, (and possibly the free bar.)
We had arrived just after ten pm and the hotel staff had style pulled out all the stops, to ensure our first night in Marrakech was one to remember.
This morning we decided we wanted to discover the new town of Marrakech, so we took a taxi to the city centre. 
