…we have to talk !

Unfortunately Marrakech has been under fire from the cameras for the last 10 days, because it has been under fire itself!

I won’t go over the events of Thursday, 28 April 2011, already well covered by your favourite media outlets, emptying by the way all riad Marrakech, but rather will give you the point of view of a spectator on the inside, after this week that could fairly be called a week of ‘sh…’.

Effectively yes, it’s been a shaken and terrifying week, one that gives you a chill on the back of the neck.

But the most surprising, is that it’s causing more shock waves outside the country than inside… The messages we’ve received and that we continue to receive all exude a sort of disproportionate terror to what we feel here…

This positive effect isn’t because the land of the Berbers feels invulnerable (far from that!) but is rather because Marrakech has a real energy, a strength, and perhaps the insouciance, to sweep away the bad and to leave room only for its traditions, its energy and in fact its commerce, the number 1 activity of the Red City, as you will have noticed…

This city, which gave its name to the kingdom of Morocco, has passed through centuries of attacks, battles and covetousness, should normally still be shaken by this new form of conflict. But not at all! The same evening of this horrific episode, the population, the medina, the street started vibrating again, living and starting up just like a computer that’s been rebooted after a bug or being reset…

Looking at the uprisings that a good number of the regimes in the Mediterranean belt have fallen to, Morocco might have been experiencing the same, based on the ‘domino effect’ theory.  It seems some people weren’t content with that, as this terrible episode arrived suddenly as though to make the last piece fall by this incredibly violent method.

But in fact today people are gathering again to demonstrate and march against the barbarians with such desire, such fervour that it makes them seem more and more sold and immovable in the face of attempted terror.

There’s no doubt about it, Marrakech, it’s truly a living legend!
Emmanuel

Tell this to the rest of the world !