Dreaming of Marrakech: 10 Key Facts

Now that the festive cheer of Christmas is well and truly behind us, January seems particularly dismal, as we fantastise about sunbaked, far flung places. So to assist you in your daydreaming, we present a series by photographer Sam Rock that evoke the spirit of Marrakech, and its considerably warmer climes. Rock's images convey a strong sense of spontaneity, and are refreshingly authentic in their depiction of the city.

"I had 2 hours left before my flight to leave the compound I was staying and get out to see the city. Into a taxi, onto the roads and out in the Medina. I have little knowledge of where I was exactly. No map. Dropped in a square and released into the labyrinth. Making mental landmarks on the streets as I entered in order to retrace my footsteps and find my way out. This was my trigger happy view of Marrakech and a little of what I found within it."

"This was my trigger happy view of Marrakech and a little of what I found within it" — Sam Rock

The results are an enlightening insight into the city's street life, a pleasant contrast to the usual contrived and unoriginal tourist photos of Marrakech. And to enlighten you further, here are our ten key facts:

1. Marrakech has a famously out-of-control cat population and chronic problem with stray cats. Tourists can’t help but notice the prevalence of Marrakech’s felines, which are strewn all over the city. There are even reports of cats breaking into hotel rooms and running rampant.

2. Sweet mint tea is Marrakech's iconic beverage, such is its popularity and importance within the daily routine of the Moroccan people. Making proper mint tea is considered an art form – similar to the Japanese and their own tea ceremonies. It is traditionally served in small glasses from a significant height, via a tea-pot with a very long, sinuous spout.

3. Marrakech is divided into two discrete areas: the Old City (Medina), where all the traditional souks are located, and Modern City, which is home to the commercial quarter and the residences of Marrakech’s inhabitants.

4. Although Arabic is Morocco’s official language, French is its most widely spoken foreign language, with around a third of the population fluent in both. French serves as a ‘lingua franca’, so all unilingual English speakers out there planning a trip should consult a French dictionary.

5. The ruins of El Baldi Palace are topped with white storks who build their nests on the old palace walls.

6. The average temperature high in the month of July is a staggeringly hot 38°C.

7. Rugs and carpets are a prominent feature of Marrakech’s consumerist landscape, as well as important part of its traditional heritage. Some say that a trip to the city isn’t complete without buying a rug; or, at the very least, entering one of its many rug-shops.

8. The fashion moguls Yves Saint Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier both bought residences in Marrakech, which is a popular second-home destination for many French celebrities.

9. Marrakech has the largest souk in the whole of Morocco.

10. Despite the burgeoning economy of Marrakech, born out of its increasingly successful tourist industry, it is still blighted by poverty, with around 20,000 households lacking access to electricity and water.

Compiled by Arabella Noortman