| Then we began what Globus describes as a "leisurely carriage ride." Well, if you can visualize the spectacle created by twelve of these carriages on the main streets of Marrakesh, it is anything but leisurely. A divided road with two lanes on each side turns into four lanes on each side, as the taxis, petit taxis, cars, trucks, motor bikes, bicycles, pedestrians and donkey carts all regard the lane lines as purely suggestions.
| When the cavalcade of carriages decides to turn left across all four lanes, the amount of honking and shouting that results is impressive to say the least. Our driver gave back considerably more than he got! However, eventually we arrived safely, if not quietly, at the beautiful Yves St. Laurent Gardens.
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| | The highlight of the evening is the optional dinner and Fantasia "Chez Ali". This is an impressive modern Casbah with mounted guards outside. We were warmly welcomed at the door.
| After passing through the treasure chamber we moved among many groups of entertainers toward our dining tent.
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| | Dinner was served in the tents. It consisted of several tajines. One of the most notable was the lamb, prunes and almonds. We also had a beautiful couscous, which our guide assured us was not as good as the one his mother made!
| During dinner the entertainers came into our tent in various groups so that there was always something going on.
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| | After dinner we went out to the ampitheater for the Fantasia. It began with a parade of all the various peoples of Morocco - Arabs, Bedouins, Berbers and blue People, walking, horseback and on camels.
| Then we had an amazing display of Berber horsemanship, accompanied by volleys on the old muzzle loading muskets. It all concluded with a fireworks display and a fly-by on a flying carpet!
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