Giving the X100 a hard time in Morocco (Part 2) Marrakech the souks and palaces - The touristy bit, day 1

So, after much flapping, faffing, getting up at 3.30am and general worrying, we all finally  arrived in Morocco. We land at Marrakech airport to my first culture shock. When we left Bristol, it was raining and the airport was packed with EasyJets, BA and every other carrier you could think of. Here, there was us, an Arab airliner, a row of fighter jets and three private jets of the Alan Sugar / Gun running drug dealer type. Marrakech airport surprisingly was a nice experience. The building is massive, light and cool and the people very helpful. I did get held up for ages in immigration, but that was mainly due to the staff having a chat and trying to explain to a girl (with whom they seemed to have no common language) that she needed to fill a form in and return to the back of the cue.We found out taxi (that we had pre booked by the riad). As we were to learn was the norm, his first concern was the money, and he promptly whizzed us to the cash-point. (It is not possible to buy Moroccan money (Dirams) outside of the country, so everyone is at the mercy of the cash-points at the airport for their first helping. Into the taxi for the scariest ride (up to that point) of my life and off to the city centre. We passed loads of palaces, palatial hotels and luxurious looking buildings. my hopes were high. THEN, we arrived in the main square, where we we bundled out of the minibus (but not before 200 dirhams had changed hands) and into the chaos that would be our home for the next couple of days. Our bags were put in a handcart and before we knew what was happening, he was gone. with us following behind.I really wasn't prepared for this. racing through the back streets past market stalls, butchers (selling things you don't want to imagine), jewelers (Rolex 20 euro!!) and more beggars and near dying mules than i have ever seen in my life. Right turn!! Down a tiny alley we went. past an old man going to the toilet in a doorway, someone led unmoving under a blanket on the side and a girl "inviting" us into her house, we finally arrived at a dark black door with a cracked tile sign pronouncing "Riad Linda"!! Oh god, this was it, what had we let ourselves in for. In we go.Inside, the Riad Linda was a very pleasant surprise, clean, airy, lovely rooms and waiting for us on the table, our first of many mint teas. And r e l a x ........After some lunch, it was decided that it was time to once again brave the outside world, so, off we went to the square and the souks.