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By Root 571 0

lean forward to grab hold of the trapeze bar. It’s heavier than it looks. Once you’re in position, with both hands steady and knees slightly bent, the instructor yells “Hep,” and that’s your cue to jump. Legs together, toes pointed, stomach in, arms strong. Suddenly, you’re swinging forward in a giant arch, high above the crowded city streets, away from the noise and chaos below. People are cheering, but for a split second, all you hear is the wind and perhaps your own voice—unsure at this point if you’re screaming with fear or delight (or, most likely, both). Before you know it, another instructor who’s on the ground, holding your safety rope, calls “knees up.” You immediately use the momentum to bring your legs up to your chest and then over the bar in one smooth move.

As your crawl over to the dismount area, and flip yourself off the net onto solid ground, your hands feel raw and adrenaline is rushing through your body. As your classmates take their turns, stretch out and revel in what you’ve accomplished for a couple of minutes. Before you know it, you’re climbing up again to attempt another skill, maybe even a split.

If you get the hang of things, your finale performance will be to try a catch with the professional trapeze artist swinging on a bar opposite you. The real trick here is to just relax and let go. Like the school’s tagline says, “Forget fear, worry about the addiction.” Even if you don’t master any fancy moves during your first class, the euphoria of simply soaring through the air, high above New York City, is enough to keep your head in the clouds for at least a few days.

The trapeze school also offers lessons in Boston, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. —JS

Trapeze School, New York City.

Trapeze School of New York ( 917/797-1872;www.newyork.trapezeschool.com).

When to Go: Year-round at the indoor location; May–Sept for the outdoor classes.

JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark airports.

$$ Excelsior Hotel, 45 W. 81st St. ( 800/368-4575 or 212/362-9200; www.excelsiorhotelny.com). $$$ Le Parker Meridien, 118 W. 57th St. ( 800/543-4300 or 212/245-5000; www.parkermeridien.com).

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Marrakech Markets

Northern Africa’s Bargaining Mecca

Marrakech, Morocco

Treasure hunting in the walled city of Marrakech stimulates all the senses. A daily soundtrack of five calls to prayer blasts from microphones in skyward-reaching minarets. Bright carpets hang off rooftops. Groups of veiled women in colorful robes stroll along the city’s dusty alleyways, while men in jellebas (traditional robes) sit in cafes sipping steaming glasses of sweet mint tea. Fragrant spices waft through the breeze. Chicken tagines infused with lemons and olives, accompanied by heaping plates of couscous, provide a hearty lunch. Shopkeepers extend a pair of babouches (slippers), urging you to caress the smooth soft brown leather.

Marrakech has been a trading center for decades, and it continues to be one of the world’s hottest shopping destinations. The city has managed to retain its centuries-old delights—Islamic palaces, comedic storytellers, and snake charmers—while also embracing tourism and giving itself a significant makeover. Behind its plain brown walls on narrow maze-like streets, you’ll find a range of surprises—from the Souk des Teinturiers, where pieces of colored wool hang to dry, to a posh new riad to leatherworkers fashioning shoes with the same tools their great-grandfathers used, to unconventional modern clothing and jewelry designers.

Although Marrakech is navigable on your own, consider arranging a short tour with an official guide on your first morning. (Ask your hotel to set you up with someone reputable and knowledgeable; don’t just go with one of the many unofficial guides on the street aggressively offering to show you around.)

After you’ve gotten your bearings, set off toward the souks. But be forewarned: Browsing and talking with local shopkeepers in Marrakech is addictive. This adventure can easily hold your attention for more than one afternoon. If you want to have a slight advantage at the bargaining table,