/* eslint-disable */
// Auto-generated destination data — marrakech
window.MARRAKECH_DATA = {
  "chrome": {
    "hero": {
      "kicker": "HowTo:Travel · Africa · Morocco",
      "h1Lines": [
        "Marrakech is the Morocco",
        "that travellers dream of—",
        "and still become."
      ],
      "issueLabel": "Issue Nº 47 · City guide · Updated April 2026",
      "lede": "Marrakech sits at the foot of the Atlas, where the Sahara's edge meets the city's edge. The medina is a warren of spice stalls and leather tanneries; Gueliz is art deco and modernist cafés. Sleep in a riad with a courtyard. Eat harira at dawn. Walk the souks until you're lost enough to find something real.",
      "stats": "1 medina · 2 riverbeds · 4 gates · 7 souks · 1 mountain range 90 minutes south",
      "metaRows": [
        {
          "k": "Currency",
          "v": "Moroccan Dirham (MAD)"
        },
        {
          "k": "Plug type",
          "v": "Type C, E"
        },
        {
          "k": "Visa for US/UK",
          "v": "Not required (90 days)"
        },
        {
          "k": "Best for first-timers",
          "v": "Yes — but sleep in Gueliz first night"
        },
        {
          "k": "Language",
          "v": "Arabic (Moroccan) · French · English (limited medina)"
        }
      ],
      "frames": [
        {
          "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504681869696-d977e02b4786?w=600&auto=format",
          "cap": "Jemaa el-Fnaa · Snake charmers, acrobats, orange juice stalls · 31°N"
        },
        {
          "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1469854523086-cc02fe5d8800?w=600&auto=format",
          "cap": "Medina tanneries · Leather vats dyed in pigeon droppings and pomegranate · 32°N"
        },
        {
          "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518684472278-23cac5f9b89f?w=600&auto=format",
          "cap": "Riad courtyard · Zellige tile, fountain, mint tea at noon · 31°N"
        }
      ]
    },
    "anchor": {
      "label": "In this guide",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "intro",
          "label": "Letter"
        },
        {
          "id": "neighborhoods",
          "label": "Neighborhoods"
        },
        {
          "id": "cities",
          "label": "Cities"
        },
        {
          "id": "trains",
          "label": "Trains"
        },
        {
          "id": "when",
          "label": "When to go"
        },
        {
          "id": "food",
          "label": "Food"
        },
        {
          "id": "festivals",
          "label": "Festivals"
        },
        {
          "id": "language",
          "label": "Language"
        },
        {
          "id": "faq",
          "label": "Questions"
        }
      ]
    },
    "intro": {
      "lead": "Marrakech is not one city but two—separated by a boulevard and a century. The medina, enclosed by crenellated walls, is medieval, fractious, sensory. The souks smell of cumin and leather; the call to prayer echoes off clay; donkeys still outnumber cars in the tight quarters. Gueliz, built under the French protectorate, is spacious, rational, caffeinated. Most travellers stay in the medina's riads and get lost in the souks. But sleep one night in Gueliz first. You'll appreciate the medina more when you understand what it's not.",
      "side": "Marrakech in April is perfect. May is still good. June through August is furnace-level; locals joke that only tourists sweat. September and October reopen the city. November through March is cool, clear, ideal for Atlas day trips. Avoid August crowds in the medina.",
      "credit": "— The editors · Marrakech · March 2026"
    },
    "signoff": {
      "h2": "The walk never ends.",
      "body": "You will get lost in the medina. This is correct. Turn down an alley that looks too narrow, climb a staircase that seems to lead nowhere, and you'll find a spice merchant's grandson selling saffron to his grandfather's recipe, or a weaver working a loom that's been in the family three hundred years. This is why you came.",
      "credit": "— The editors"
    }
  },
  "neighborhoods": [
    {
      "num": "01",
      "name": "Medina &",
      "nameEm": "Jemaa el-Fnaa",
      "city": "Marrakech",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "text": "The heart. Jemaa el-Fnaa is the plaza—snake charmers, acrobats, orange juice stalls, storytellers. Around it: the souks (textiles, leather, metalwork, spices), the Ben Youssef Mosque, narrow riads with painted doors. No cars. Loud. Alive.",
      "why": "This is Marrakech. Everything else is context."
    },
    {
      "num": "02",
      "name": "Gueliz &",
      "nameEm": "Ville Nouvelle",
      "city": "Marrakech",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "text": "The new town, built 1913 onward. Straight streets, art deco villas, galleries, cafés with outdoor seating. Avenue Mohammed V is the spine. Cooler, quieter, less touristic. French-speaking, French-feeling. This is where locals live.",
      "why": "Sleep here your first night. Eat breakfast at Café Arabe looking toward the medina walls."
    },
    {
      "num": "03",
      "name": "Palmeraie &",
      "nameEm": "oasis",
      "city": "Marrakech",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "text": "Palm groves north of the city, studded with resort riads and weekend houses. A dirt-road escape from the medina's intensity. Date palms, olive groves, open sky. Feels like countryside, ten minutes from Jemaa.",
      "why": "Day trips to the Atlas start here. Or rent a bike and pedal the palm tracks at dawn."
    },
    {
      "num": "04",
      "name": "Casbah &",
      "nameEm": "Saadian tombs",
      "city": "Marrakech",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "text": "South medina, quieter quadrant. The Saadian Tombs (16th-century mausoleums) sit here, stuccoed and tiled in golden silence. The Bahia Palace is nearby—a 19th-century royal residence with courtyards and zellige. Fewer tourists. Real texture.",
      "why": "Morning light in the Saadian Tombs is worth the walk. Bring water."
    }
  ],
  "cities": [
    {
      "name": "Marrakech",
      "pop": 0.93,
      "region": "Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504681869696-d977e02b4786?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "3–4",
      "mood": "Sensory, labyrinthine, unhurried",
      "best": "Apr · May · Sep–Oct",
      "quote": "Sleep in a riad. Eat tagine at sunset in Jemaa. Walk the medina until you find the tanneries."
    },
    {
      "name": "Fès",
      "pop": 1.15,
      "region": "Fès-Meknès",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1570000634033-59c840169fd3?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Medieval, confusing, essential",
      "best": "Apr–May · Sep–Oct",
      "quote": "The medina is larger than Marrakech's and older. Get a guide for the leather quarter."
    },
    {
      "name": "Essaouira",
      "pop": 0.81,
      "region": "Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1518611505867-48a8cdc3e37c?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Coastal, breezy, bohemian",
      "best": "Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct",
      "quote": "Three hours from Marrakech. White-washed medina, fishing port, seafood lunch on the quay."
    },
    {
      "name": "Meknes",
      "pop": 0.63,
      "region": "Fès-Meknès",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506905925346-21bda4d32df4?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "1",
      "mood": "Imperial, underrated, green",
      "best": "Apr–May · Sep–Oct",
      "quote": "On the Fès–Marrakech route. Stables, royal gates, fewer tourists than either neighbor."
    },
    {
      "name": "Ouarzazate",
      "pop": 0.08,
      "region": "Souss-Massa-Drâa",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506905925346-21bda4d32df4?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "1",
      "mood": "Desert gateway, cinema backlot",
      "best": "Oct–Apr",
      "quote": "Gateway to the Drâa Valley and south. Hot, dusty, the edge of the Sahara. Stay for the drive, not the town."
    },
    {
      "name": "Tangier",
      "pop": 0.95,
      "region": "Tanger-Tetouan",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "img": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508938223788-81c5b3e1d5a4?w=900&auto=format",
      "days": "2",
      "mood": "Mediterranean, literary, risky",
      "best": "May–Jun · Sep–Oct",
      "quote": "Port city. Kasbah, old medina, views to Spain. Less touristy than Marrakech. Slightly rougher."
    }
  ],
  "trains": [
    {
      "route": "Marrakech → Fès",
      "time": "9h 15m",
      "op": "ONCF (Moroccan National Railways)",
      "note": "Overnight or day sleeper available. Slow but scenic. Departs 7am, arrives 5pm next day via Meknes."
    },
    {
      "route": "Marrakech → Essaouira",
      "time": "3h",
      "op": "Bus (Supratours or CTM)",
      "note": "No train. Buses hourly from the main station. Coastal road, frequent stops."
    },
    {
      "route": "Marrakech → Ouarzazate",
      "time": "4h 30m",
      "op": "Bus (Supratours)",
      "note": "Atlas passes, hairpin turns, stunning. Book evening bus to see the High Atlas by daylight."
    },
    {
      "route": "Fès → Tangier",
      "time": "5h 30m",
      "op": "ONCF",
      "note": "Departs midday, coastal route through Tetuan. Modern rolling stock."
    },
    {
      "route": "Casablanca → Marrakech",
      "time": "3h 30m",
      "op": "ONCF (high-speed)",
      "note": "Direct from Casa's airport or city centre. First-class worth it. Arrives in Marrakech late morning."
    },
    {
      "route": "Marrakech → Casablanca",
      "time": "3h 30m",
      "op": "ONCF (high-speed)",
      "note": "Return journey. Early morning or late afternoon departures."
    }
  ],
  "when": [
    {
      "m": "Jan",
      "n": "Cool, clear, 14–20°C. Ideal for medina walking. Atlas peaks snow-capped. Zero rain. High season (book ahead)."
    },
    {
      "m": "Feb",
      "n": "Same as January. Almond blossoms in the foothills. Still peak. Riad prices spike."
    },
    {
      "m": "Mar",
      "n": "Spring arrives. 16–22°C. Shoulder season starts; fewer crowds. Wildflowers in Palmeraie. Still perfect."
    },
    {
      "m": "Apr",
      "n": "Best month. 18–26°C. Warm afternoons, cool mornings. Medina souks busier but not suffocating. Ideal for everything."
    },
    {
      "m": "May",
      "n": "Still excellent. 22–30°C. Summer starting. Midday heat in medina, but early morning and evening perfect. Good for Atlas hiking."
    },
    {
      "m": "Jun",
      "n": "Hot. 26–35°C. Medina becomes a furnace after 11am. Tourists thin out. Locals retreat indoors. Go early, siesta long, walk at dusk."
    },
    {
      "m": "Jul",
      "n": "Hottest. 28–37°C. Only visit if you tolerate extreme heat. Medina in siesta mode until 5pm. Essaouira cooler (coastal breeze)."
    },
    {
      "m": "Aug",
      "n": "Same heat, more tourists at last minute. Avoid. Locals abroad. Restaurants shuffle staff. Riad courtyards are the only refuge."
    },
    {
      "m": "Sep",
      "n": "City reawakens. 24–33°C. Still warm, but heat breaks late month. Crowds vanish. Locals return. Excellent for everything."
    },
    {
      "m": "Oct",
      "n": "Shoulder season, second wave. 20–28°C. Clear skies, perfect light. Atlas hiking best now. Few tourists. Ideal."
    },
    {
      "m": "Nov",
      "n": "Cooling down. 16–24°C. Occasional rain. Fewer tourists. Medina less crowded. Still very walkable."
    },
    {
      "m": "Dec",
      "n": "Winter. 12–20°C. Cool mornings, warm afternoons. Some rain. Holiday crowds arrive late month. Christmas and New Year prices spike."
    }
  ],
  "food": [
    {
      "dish": "Tagine",
      "where": "Everywhere (Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Slow-braised stew in a conical earthenware pot. Lamb with prunes and almonds. Chicken with preserved lemon. Eat at Jemaa sunset.",
      "emoji": "🍲",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Harira",
      "where": "Street stalls, dawn (Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Tomato and lentil soup, thickened with chickpeas and spices. Eaten at dawn to break the Ramadan fast. Warming, ancient, essential.",
      "emoji": "🥣",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Pastilla",
      "where": "Restaurant (Fès, Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Phyllo pastry wrapped around spiced pigeon, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Savory-sweet, fragile, Moroccan signature.",
      "emoji": "📦",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Couscous",
      "where": "Friday lunch (Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Steamed semolina granules with Seven Vegetable stew. Traditionally eaten after mosque on Friday. Light, ritual, the national dish.",
      "emoji": "🍚",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Grilled sardines",
      "where": "Quayside (Essaouira)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Whole sardines charred over charcoal, squeezed with lemon. Eaten with bread and harissa. Salt air, smoke, simplicity.",
      "emoji": "🐟",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Msemen",
      "where": "Breakfast, any café (Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Flaky griddle bread, folded into squares, served with butter and honey. Eaten with fresh-squeezed orange juice. Dawn ritual.",
      "emoji": "🥞",
      "span": 2
    },
    {
      "dish": "Mint tea",
      "where": "Everywhere (Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Gunpowder green tea steeped with fresh mint and sugar. Poured from height into small glasses. Hospitality, cooling, constant.",
      "emoji": "☕",
      "span": 1
    },
    {
      "dish": "Brochettes",
      "where": "Grill stalls (Marrakech)",
      "regionId": "africa",
      "note": "Lamb or beef kebabs, spiced and grilled, served with bread and salsa. Street food. Dinner. Best at Jemaa after dark.",
      "emoji": "🍖",
      "span": 1
    }
  ],
  "festivals": [
    {
      "num": "01",
      "name": "Festival National des Arts Populaires",
      "where": "Marrakech",
      "when": "Jul",
      "text": "Three weeks of folk music, dance, and poetry in the medina and gardens. Gnawa music, Berber dance troupes, storytellers. Humid, crowded, essential.",
      "regionId": "africa"
    },
    {
      "num": "02",
      "name": "Essaouira Gnawa and World Music Festival",
      "where": "Essaouira",
      "when": "Jun",
      "text": "Four days of Gnawa (sub-Saharan trance music) mixed with jazz, reggae, funk. Seaside stages, sunset performances, international crowds.",
      "regionId": "africa"
    },
    {
      "num": "03",
      "name": "Fès Festival of World Sacred Music",
      "where": "Fès",
      "when": "May–Jun",
      "text": "Nine days of spiritual music from Sufi, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist traditions. Held in Fès medina and palaces. Contemplative, cross-cultural.",
      "regionId": "africa"
    },
    {
      "num": "04",
      "name": "Almond Blossom Festival",
      "where": "Tafraoute (Anti-Atlas)",
      "when": "Jan–Feb",
      "text": "Celebration of almond blossoms in the mountain valley. Local products, music, traditional dances. Small, rural, worth the drive south.",
      "regionId": "africa"
    },
    {
      "num": "05",
      "name": "Imilchil Marriage Festival",
      "where": "Imilchil (Middle Atlas)",
      "when": "Sep",
      "text": "Berber couples marry en masse in a moussem (tribal gathering). Livestock trading, music, henna, collective vows. Authentic and remote.",
      "regionId": "africa"
    }
  ],
  "language": [
    {
      "lc": "السلام عليكم",
      "tr": "As-salaamu alaikum",
      "note": "Peace be upon you. Standard Moroccan Arabic greeting. Response: wa alaikum assalam. Use it; locals appreciate the effort."
    },
    {
      "lc": "شكراً",
      "tr": "Shukran",
      "note": "Thank you. Works in any context. Shukran bzef = thank you very much."
    },
    {
      "lc": "من فضلك",
      "tr": "Min fadlak (m) / fadlik (f)",
      "note": "Please. Gender matters in Moroccan Arabic. Used before requests."
    },
    {
      "lc": "واش كاينة غير الفرنسية؟",
      "tr": "Do you speak French?",
      "note": "Moroccan Darija. Most Moroccan service workers understand French. English less common outside Marrakech."
    },
    {
      "lc": "كم السعر؟",
      "tr": "Kum assiar? / Shnua thamen?",
      "note": "How much? Essential for souks. Expect negotiation; it's a game, not rudeness."
    },
    {
      "lc": "ما عندي فلوس بزاف",
      "tr": "I don't have much money",
      "note": "Moroccan Darija. Works in bargaining. Sympathetic, disarming."
    },
    {
      "lc": "باراكة",
      "tr": "Baraka",
      "note": "Blessing, grace. Used informally to mean 'enough' or 'stop.' Locals say it when they mean respect/honor."
    },
    {
      "lc": "نعم، حسناً",
      "tr": "Naam, hasana",
      "note": "Yes, good. Affirmative. Hasana alone = okay, fine, good."
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Is it safe?",
      "a": "Yes, broadly. Marrakech is a tourist city; theft happens but violent crime is rare. Be aware in crowds (pickpockets in souks and Jemaa). Women solo-travel safely; harassment is mostly catcalls, not dangerous. Avoid flaunting wealth. Street drugs are available but best ignored. Use registered taxis (petit taxi, white with red stripes) or apps (Uber works in Marrakech). Trust your instincts; if a situation feels wrong, leave."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I need a guide in the medina?",
      "a": "No, but a good one saves three days of wandering. Self-guided is the romantic option; hire a guide (arrange through your riad) for specific destinations—the tanneries, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Mosque. Expect 200–300 MAD for a half-day. Avoid street touts offering guidance; they're often guides working illegally or angling for commissions on leather shops."
    },
    {
      "q": "When is Ramadan, and should I avoid it?",
      "a": "Ramadan dates shift yearly (Islamic calendar). In 2026, it runs roughly from late February to early April. The city is slower; many restaurants close during daylight. But iftar (sunset meal) is lively and open to visitors. Mornings are quieter. If you're fasting, respect it; if not, eat discretely. Hotels and tourist restaurants stay open. Go if you want the real rhythm; avoid if you need restaurants open all day."
    },
    {
      "q": "What's the best riad to stay in?",
      "a": "Depends on budget and taste. Mid-range (600–1200 MAD/night): Riad Karmela, Riad Ksar Anika, Dar Anika—all family-run, central, good breakfast. Luxury (1200–2500 MAD): La Mamounia (famous, but touristy), Riad Kniza (intimate). Budget (300–600 MAD): Equity Point, Riad Les Cigognes. Stay in the medina for the full experience; Gueliz is easier but less atmospheric. Book direct or through a local booking service."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I get to the Atlas from Marrakech?",
      "a": "Tour operators in Marrakech offer day trips to Ourika Valley (30km, 1 hour) or Imlil base camp (60km, 2 hours). Cost: 400–600 MAD including guide and lunch. Or rent a car (200 MAD/day) and drive yourself—roads are paved and clear, but hairpin turns require concentration. Best months: April–May, September–October. Higher elevations are snow-covered November–March and impassable in rain."
    },
    {
      "q": "What's the deal with bargaining?",
      "a": "In the souks, prices are suggested, not fixed. For leather, metalwork, rugs: start at 40–50% of asking price and negotiate upward. For food, spices, tourist trinkets: less haggling, more play. It's a game, not personal. Walk away if prices aren't moving; the vendor will call you back. Avoid high-pressure shops; trust your gut. Fixed prices (grocery stores, restaurants, riads) are non-negotiable."
    },
    {
      "q": "How many days do I need in Marrakech?",
      "a": "Three days minimum: Day 1 medina and souks, Day 2 Saadian Tombs and Bahia Palace, Day 3 Palmeraie or an Atlas day trip. Four days is better—add Essaouira (day trip) or a second Atlas trek. One day is a pit stop; two days feels rushed."
    }
  ]
};