November 9, El Badi

November 10, 2022

Word of the day: El Badi, one of the 99 names for Hod in Islam. It means incomparable: matchless, without an equal in quality or extent. We went to El Badi Palace today.

Badi Palace (Arabic: قصر البديع, lit. 'Palace of Wonder/Brilliance',^[1] also frequently translated as the "Incomparable Palace"^[2]) or Badi' Palace^[2] is a ruined palace located in Marrakesh, Morocco. It was commissioned by the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian dynasty a few months after his accession in 1578.

We left our friend Mohammed this morning from Bouznika, on the Atlantic coast,

and headed to Marrakech. Lyrics from Crosby, Stills, and Nash are quite fitting;

Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes

Travelling the train through clear Moroccan skiesDucks, and pigs, and chickens callAnimal carpet wall-to-wallAmerican ladies five-foot tall in blue

Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mindHad to get away to see what we could findHope the days that lie aheadBring us back to where they've ledListen not to what's been said to you

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressWouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressThey're taking me to MarrakeshAll aboard the train, all aboard the train

I've been saving all my money just to take you thereI smell the garden in your hair

Take the train from Casablanca going southBlowing smoke rings from the corners of my mouth, my mouthColored cottons hang in the airCharming cobras in the squareStriped djellebas we can wear at homeWell, let me hear ya now

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressWouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressThey're taking me to Marrakesh

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressWouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh ExpressThey're taking me to MarrakeshAll on board the train, all on board the trainAll on board

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Graham Nash

Marrakesh Express lyrics © Nash Notes

Sleeping beauty in 1st class! Although Morocco 🇲🇦 has some very fast trains, our Marrakech Express was not one of them. We arrived in Marrakech around 12.30 to the cacaphony of the Medina. What a change from the ocean waves lapping against the rocks; the quiet of a rural neighborhood.