Djemaa el Fna is located in the exotic city of Marrakech and is known to locals as the 'heart of the city'. It is a part of Marrakech that presents an ever changing character with the rising of the sun and well into the night. It is a cultural mix of color, scents, sight and sound and is one of the liveliest attractions in Morocco. Visitors and tourists should not miss the opportunity to spend time in Djemaa el Fna, not only by day, but also at night In the early evening, the snake charmers, fruit juice traders and snack stalls start packing up to leave. Slowly the Djemaa el Fna starts to bustle with storytellers, musicians, healers, magicians, peddlers, Chleu (dancing boys) and sellers of traditional medicine. Looking at the festivities, it is easy to picture yourself in a scene of the 2005 movie, "Morocco: The Past and Present of Djemaa el Fna". In this historical documentary, the cultural combination of Berber and Arab is depicted with all the color, acrobats, snake charmers and musicians that one still finds here today.
In the evenings the food stalls have a large variety of traditional dishes to choose from and these may include meat, vegetables and fish. When a visitor sees something they like they simply need to point out the dishes they want and within a few minutes it is prepared. The food is delicious and if the locals have given it their stamp of approval, it is definitely safe to try. If the noise and activity becomes too much, there are quiet gardens and cafes nearby.
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