Morocco round the clock

North Africa is a bit of an enigma for a lot of you guys I bet; all that mysticism and Mediterranean atmosphere conjuring up images of snakes being charmed out of baskets and pyramids and what have you – or is that Egypt? Whatever. Truth is that Morocco is as much as touristy target as any part of southern Europe, and influences from colonial powers past are still very much in evidence. It's also very hot and the food is very nice, and Easyjet fly to Marrakech, so what are you waiting for?

There is obviously rather a lot to see and do in Marrakech, and if it's sight-seeing that you want, then you're gonna get it. For me the Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret was the highlight, even moving a hardcore atheist like myself to say 'nice mosque'. Shame about all the god stuff, but you can't deny its architectural spleandour.

After all that sight-seeing goodness, you're going to want some nightlife to wind down, and Djemaa El Fna is where it's at if you want a busy public square with all sorts of craziness going on. It quite possibly could be the busiest square in the whole continent, and it bustles with trade at the souk (traditional North African markets) and cafes that are dotted all around the square. While it's obviously full of patronising westerners metaphorically patting the heads of an entire country and culture, it retains enough of its regular life for locals that you'll take in what makes Morocco different, and special.