A Tapestry of Cultures: Lisbon's European Charisma and Marrakech's North African Delights
Exploring the rich history, picturesque landscapes, and cultural treasures of Portugal, and Morocco was a captivating experience
My wife, Miriam, and I flew on American Airlines from New Orleans to Philadelphia, where we met long-time friends from Chicago, Michael and Walidah Bennett for the flight across the Atlantic. Fortunately, we were able to upgrade to a premium economy and were able to secure wider and more comfortable seats with greater recline and a footrest. It also included priority boarding, two check-free bags, complimentary meals and alcoholic beverages, a comfortable pillow, and a full-length blanket. I recommend upgrading for any flights that are more than four hours.
This was the third trip to Lisbon for Miriam and me, our favorite European city. Lisbon has the mystique of old Europe, but the diversity and attractions of any cosmopolitan venue. We Ubered to our apartment at 17 Rua de Fe, just a door away from the Mexican restaurant, “3-Amigos” which serves the best tacos in Lisbon. They also make a New Orleans style “Hurricane, which has endeared me to their restaurant.
3- Amigos Restaurant at Calcada da Pampulha – 38, Lisbon, Portugal
Brooklyn Restaurant at Praca da Alegria, 35-37, Lisbon , Portugal
Too early for lunch and check-in at our VRBO, we went to another of our favorite spots, “ Brooklyn Restaurant,” where we enjoyed a filling breakfast. Afterward, we checked into our flat at 4 PM and napped a bit to be ready to engage in our evening activity, a visit to Sophia’s Place.
Owned by Sophia Lopes, a transplant from Cape Verde, the restaurant’s cuisine is Afro Fusion. Sophia makes the best Sangria I have ever tasted. She uses champagne and sweet white wine, a variety of berries, cinnamon, and other ingredients we will not disclose. Moreover, dining at Sophia’s
Sofia’s Champagne Sangria
is an experience. The food is a gastronomic blend of African, Portuguese, and Brazilian. We enjoyed a braised chicken with peanut sauce, and rice topped with an edible flower. Knowing that we were celebrating two birthdays, Sophia made a cake for the occasion.
Braised Chicken with Peanut Sauce
Birthday cake celebrating the birthdays of a 61-year-old and two 70-year-olds
After dinner, exhausted from the long overseas journey, we went to our flat and settled in for the night.
The next day, we took a Tuk -Tuk tour of Lisbon.
Tuk-Tuk, a three-wheel electric vehicle, perfect for touring Lisbon’s narrow streets
The drivers charge 45-50 Euros per hour for up to six people, and it’s a fun way to see and learn the history of Lisbon. After our tour, we stopped at one of the many Bodegas near our flat, where we bought two bottles of Portuguese wine for less than 15 euros. Bodegas are small grocery stores and wine shops. The Bodegas in Lisbon carry a variety of superb wines at a very low cost.
After a wine tasting, and a nap, we were off to La Villa at Campos dos Martires Patria 40-41. An Italian restaurant within walking distance from our flat, La Villa is another one of our favorite restaurants where we met up with friends and shared a wonderful meal and wine.
La Villa Restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal
After dinner, instead of ordering a dessert from the restaurant, we decided on Gelato from the number one gelato place in Lisbon, “MU.”
MU Gelato Italiano, Campos dos Martires 50, Lisbon, Portugal
We spent several days in Lisbon before flying to Marrakech, Morocco for another adventure. We had never been to Morrocco but the cost to fly from Lisbon was a bargain at less than 200 euros round trip per person on TAP and Iberia Airlines. The plan was to tour Marrakech for a day and then take a day trip to Essaouira, Morocco on their northern coast. The flights are nonstop and take only an hour and a half each way unless there is a stop.
When we arrived in Marrakech, the temperature was 46 Celsius (115° Fahrenheit). It was the hottest ambient temperature I had ever experienced. But after all, Marrakech is in Northern Africa, in the Sahara desert, and is considered the door to the Sahara. As we approached Marrakech, initially all one could see was the vast Sahara desert. Then, gradually, small red-sided buildings increased in number as the city came into view.
From the Sahara to civilization approaching Marrakech, Morrocco
The ancient city of Marrakech as seen from the airplane on approach
Marrakech was founded in 1070 CE and is Morrocco’s fourth largest city. The city is on the edge of the Sahara desert, the world's largest warm-weather desert. Marrakech is a mixture of ancient and modern, where camels, donkeys, Tuk Tuks, cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and hand-pulled carts share the same roadways. The latest Indiana Jones movie has a scene in Morrocco that depicts the diverse traffic.
We rented a beautiful home in Marrakech through VRBO that had all the amenities, a driver and cook provided by the owner, and Air conditioning. The home also had an indoor pool and rooftop deck overlooking Marrakech. The Moroccan culture takes pride in helping guests feel comfortable. These traditional Moroccan homes are called “Raids,” and are within the Medina or walls of the old city.
On our first evening, we settled in ordering from “Glovo,” a food delivery service much like DoorDash. It was a delicious Tagine chicken dish with rice, bread, and condiments, for four people for $16.31. We were surprised at the low cost of prepared meals both in the restaurants and delivery.
Early the next morning we awoke to the aroma of coffee, eggs, and freshly baked bread. The cook had prepared a meal at the behest of the owner when he heard how early we had to start our tour.
Our tour guide resembles a relative anyone of us might have. He was tall, light in color, and gregarious. Very knowledgeable about the history of Marrakech, its founding, and its unique irrigation system designed a century ago, yet still in use and functional today.
Our tour guide in Marrakech, Hassan
He also explained the five calls to prayer, as practiced in the Muslim religion. These moments of reflection and thankfulness take 2-3 minutes for each call.
Our guide took us into the medina and the markets. If there is one experience you must have, it is the market. You can find the usual tourist trinkets, very expensive art pieces, natural medical herb mixtures, and spices. But, always bargain. We saw Moroccan-style white shirts, made of the softest cotton and well tailored. Bargaining gave us a discount of nearly 50%.
The spices of Marrakech are internationally desired. We were able to buy 2 grams of Safran for $20.00, along with cumin, cinnamon, and spice combinations for fish and poultry. We were instructed to keep the spices in a dark environment in an air-tight jar to ensure longevity.
I recommend using a tour guide, someone that knows Marrakech, or any area that you visit but aren’t familiar with. The heat, the traffic, and the potential for malfeasance are eliminated with a tour guide.
I also recommend taking toilet paper or a brand of wipes, because some of the bathrooms don’t have those necessities. We took dude wipes which can be found online or at Walmart.
We finished our tour and shopping and headed home. On the way, the guide was kind enough to take us to a store that sold beer, wine, and other, liquors. We purchased Casablanca beer to have with our evening meal.
Customers bargaining with a shop owner in the markets of Marrakech
We finished our tour and shopping and headed home. On the way, the guide was kind enough to take us to a store that sold beer, wine, and other, liquors. We purchased Casablanca beer to have with our evening meal.
Hungry, we went to the Majorelle Gardens café for a quick snack and to tour the gardens. The Majorelle Garden was designed by the French Artist, Jacques Majorelle and took 40 years to complete. In the garden is a café that serves tasty small plates with a variety of refreshments.
The next day we took a bus to Essuoria, an ancient port city and fishing village on the northern coast of Morrocco. The first thing I noticed was the small blue fishing boats gathered in the marina.
Small Blue fishing boats in Essouria
Essouria is also known for its Skala de la Kabash, a European fortress built as a seawall. Its cannons lined the walls on all sides, guarding the city from invaders.
The Skala de la Kabash on the coast of Essaouira
Cannons lining the walls of the Sskala
We finished our tour, and stopped for a great meal at “Restaurant II Mare.” I ordered a Tangine seafood dish, which reminded me a bit of a Pealla.
Tangine Seafood
View from the Restaurant II Mare
We found time to do more shopping before boarding our bus for the three-hour ride back to Marrakech.
On our last night in Marrakech, we decided on Tangine lamb, once again ordering from Le Tanji through Glovo. Another wonderful meal after a great day of touring Essaouria which created memories that will last forever.
We finished breakfast and waited for our car to arrive to take us to the airport. We would be in Porto, Portugal in a few hours.
Part 2 - Porto, Portugal Coming Soon.
Armand Gonzalzles is a frequent contributor to Fit2Journey. While he resides in New Orleans, the world is his home.
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