Amanda Blanton Photography

Marrakech, 2009 Marrakech is one of my all time favorite cities. It has incredible energy, a large and diverse population, incredible history and it never seems to close down.  In July 2009 the temperatures reached as high as 135 degrees. When its that hot out, the streets are nearly empty- you feel like you have the city to yourself. When the sun set, the city transforms into a bustling metropolis. All the images in this selection were taken during the day- you can see how empty the streets are! The final image is of the Djemaa el F'na- one of the most popular public squares and market in the city.

Me and Hajja relaxing at Aicha's house. Summer 2009. I stepped off the plane in Casablanca. The air was smoggy, hot and dry. There was the distinct smell of diesel fuel, stale perfume and ocean air in the distance. I visited Morocco once before in 2006 to meet my husband’s family for the first time. They threw an amazing three day wedding celebration for us. This visit there would be no major celebrations, just time to visit and see more of the country. Hajja (my mother in law), Omar (my brother in law) and Aziz (the mister) met me at the airport.  It was wonderful to see them again. My mother in law has a fantastic sense of humor always smells faintly of orange blossoms. Omar is kind and gentle- he is a devout Muslim and has the dark marks from regular prayer on his forehead. It had been six weeks since I had seen Aziz. he looked strong, tan, rested and refreshed. We packed my luggage into Omar's Fiat and headed to Aziz's sisters house. When we arrived, Aïcha ha