Getting Lost in the Medina: The Day Marrakech Taught Me to Slow Down

The first time I walked into the Medina of Marrakech, I thought I was prepared.

I had watched the YouTube videos, saved the “must-see” spots, and even practiced saying salaam alaikum with what I thought was decent pronunciation.

Five minutes in, I realized none of that mattered.

The Moment I Realized I Was Lost

It happened somewhere near a spice stall, the kind where mountains of paprika and saffron glow like fire under the sunlight. I turned left, then right, then left again… and suddenly every alley looked the same.

Vendors called out warm greetings. Mopeds zipped past. Kids ran through the streets chasing a football. And I stood there, frozen, clutching my phone with zero signal.

A shopkeeper nearby older man, henna-dyed beard, smile like he had seen this a thousand times laughed softly and said,

“You are lost, yes? Don’t worry. Marrakech knows where you’re going.”

I didn’t know whether to be comforted or terrified.

A Stranger’s kindness

He wasn’t trying to sell me anything. He didn’t offer a tour.

He just pointed in a direction and said,

“Walk slowly. Medina is not for rushing.”

So I walked. Slowly.

And the strangest thing happened: I started noticing things I hadn’t before.

The smell of freshly baked msemen floating from a tiny corner bakery.

The sound of metalworkers hammering patterns into lanterns.

The way sunlight slipped between wooden rooftops and landed on the dusty ground like gold.

I wasn’t following Google Maps anymore.

I was following the rhythm of the city.

A Cat Led Me Home (Kind Of)

At one point, a ginger street cat decided to escort me.

Every time I hesitated at a turn, it would look back at me as if to say, “Come on. I do this every day.”

I don’t know if it actually knew the way out, but eventually—after what felt like an hour—I spotted a familiar doorway: my riad.

The cat stopped, sat down, and stared at me like it deserved a tip.

I bought it a piece of chicken from a nearby stall.

The Very Moroccan Lesson I Took Away

That day, I learned something Morocco teaches better than any other place I’ve been:

You don’t really experience Marrakech until you let go of control.

You don’t truly see it until you stop trying to “navigate” it.

The Medina isn’t a maze to conquer.

It’s a living story, one you step into and let unfold around you.

And getting lost?

It’s not a mistake. It’s part of the point.

Final Thoughts

If you ever visit Marrakech, I hope you get lost too—not in a stressful way, but in the kind of way that makes you look up instead of down. Wander, breathe, follow your instincts… or a cat.

You’ll find your way eventually.

Everyone does.