Overview of Marrakech and Farewell

From the time I was a little girl I have been enchanted by tales of foreign lands, eager to immerse myself in the smells, sights and sounds of these captivating landscapes.

And after crossing oceans and deserts to arrive at North Africa’s Red City – Marrakech – I am pleased to say that it was well worth the wait. Marrakech was all I hoped it would be with her stylish riads, magical museums, theatrical restaurants, and colorful souks. It allowed me to be in a constant state of exotic intoxication and utter bliss.

Over the course of a few days I found myself in love with this city that had bewitched me body and soul, and in discovering Marrakech, I also discovered a part of myself.

Thank you Marrakech for the adventure, for all the wonderful memories, and for all the incredible people I met along the way. Until we meet again.  

Our days were spent walking through the souks and shopping at the city’s best boutiques like Al Matjar and AYA’S where the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Streisand and Julia Roberts have shopped. Of course I could not help but treat myself to some gorgeous new accessories. 

At night we enjoyed meals and drinks at some of the city’s best restaurants and lounges. My favorite was Al Fassia, in Gueliz, a restaurant run entirely by women that serves traditional Moroccan food and wine. The restaurant’s ambiance was part of the allure, elegantly decorated in rich tones, set off by crisp white cloths. The night was so warm and beautiful that we decided to dine outdoors by candle light. Our meal was a delicious mixture of salads, meats and sweets that characterized the best in Moroccan cuisine.  

The perfect place for drinks is the spectacular La Mamounia Hotel. The entire property evokes the elegance and deep romance of Moorish design. As I sat back enjoying the property and my drink, I gave cheers and thanks to dreams coming true!

If you think Marrakech lacks in night life then you’re dead wrong. The city offers an array of places to dance the night away. One of the city’s best is the restaurant-lounge-nightclub Jad Mahal filled with stylish Europeans clicking glasses of Champagne in a chic setting that blends Indian and Moroccan décor. We enjoyed a night of eating, drinking and dancing among jet-setters as guests were treated to a performance by belly dancers. What a great night and experience it turned out to be.

Thank you Marrakech for being all I hoped you would be!

Hammam at Riad Azoulay

After a long day of sightseeing we returned to the lovely Riad Azoulay to find two bathrobes adorned with freshly cut roses on our bed. We were instructed to change into our bathrobes and go downstairs where the talented Zaira would perform the Arab ritual of the Hammam bath.

The Hammam took place in a room of white marble that was dimly lit by candle light. A marble bench ran the full length of one wall and half of the other. I sat down onto the hot marble and listened to the sound of rushing hot water as I watched the light patterns reflect across the room. This put me into a state of total relaxation.

Zaira began by pouring warm water over the bench and floor to create a sauna like atmosphere. She then doused me in warm water and asked me to lie face down with my arms outstretched as she rubbed Moroccan black soap into my skin while stretching and massaging my muscles. The same ritual was performed on my front. I was then rinsed off with generous amounts of warm water as she washed off the soap.

As I lay back down, she again applied black soap to my body only this time she rubbed my skin vigorously with a "gome" glove. This coarse mitt removes all dead cells from your skin and stimulates your circulation, reducing the build-up of cellulite (women in North America would love this). She then repeated this on my front, but with less force.

Rhassoul clay was then applied all over my body and face, with the exception of my eyes and I then laid on the warm marble bench and cooked gently in the cleansing clay for about 5 minutes. I was then brought a glass of cooling water to sip, before the clay was rinsed off in warm water.

After this I enjoyed a wonderful 30 minute massage to complete this truly relaxing, pampering and utterly enjoyable Hamman experience!

Items for a Hammam Spa Experience:

CLAY(rhassoul, ghassoul)
This mineral clay is unique to the edge of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco, where it has been used since the 13th century. Infused with floral water, it gently cleanses and softens the hair, body and face. It is also known for its efficiency absorption of toxins, impurities and normalizes excessive sebum from the skin. This coveted, 100 % natural product is an essential element of Moroccan womens beauty rituals.

DAMASK ROSE BUDS (Rosa damascena)
Also called "the flower of One Thousand and One Nights", this fragrant rose is harvested at the base of the Atlas Mountains neat the stunning, and colourful valley of Dades. Its large buds are delicately removed from the petals and left to dry. The buds can be transformed into essential oils and other cosmetics. These exquisite rose buds will transform any bath into a sensual and fragrant experience. The Damask rose is known to tone, soften, soothe and protect the skin against cold, dryness and the sun.

ORANGE BLOSSOM AND ROSE WATERS
Distilled from plants, floral waters provide purifying, clarifying, regenerative and calming benefits to all skin types. Rose water has a delicate fragrance and is primarily used to treat wrinkles and moisturize the skin. Orange blossom water gently cleanses, soothes and restores the skin's natural balance.

KESSA GLOVE
Made from woven viscose fabric (formerly, goat hair was used), the kessa glove is a traditional tool in the exfoliation ritual. Black soap and dead skin are vigorously scrubbed and rinsed away, revealing smooth and silky skin. This process can be followed by a soothing application of argan oil or shea butter.

Yves Saint Laurent’s Majorelle Garden

The Majorelle Garden is a beautiful botanical garden in Marrakech formerly owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent. It is also the place his ashes are now scattered.

Made in the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle, this lovely garden is composed and coloured like a painting. To understand its true beauty one must walk along its raised pathways, past banana trees, groves of bamboo, coconut palms and bougainvilleas.

There is also a lovely collection of Pop Art on display painted by Yves Saint Laurent himself. LOVE was his subject matter and how befitting, for love is the great emotion one feels when walking through this charming oasis.

 

 

 

Discovery Marrakech

The next morning I awoke at sunrise to the sound of morning prayers and quickly fell back into a deep sleep. A few hours later I dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. There I found a generous assortment of hand baked breads, cakes, croissants, homemade jams, omelettes, freshly squeezed orange juice and brewed coffee. It was a lovely feast and I devoured every last bite. 

At 9am our guide, Josef, promptly arrived to show us the famous sights of Marrakech.  Our tour began at the Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century by Sultan Moulay el Hassan I's notorious Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed. Once home to a harem, it is a marvelous display of painted wood, ceramics, and symmetrical gardens. We then went on to visit Ben Youssef Medersa, a 16th-century Koran school adorned with dazzling mosaics, intricate cedar panels and religious verses carved in white plaster. Take a look at the images and you will see for yourself.

Josef also led us through the labyrinth of lanes that would guide us into the Berber markets to see the artisans hard at work crafting their masterpieces.  There I witnessed firsthand the craftsmanship and skill that goes into the creation of every handcrafted good. I also discovered my own talent for negotiating prices!

I really enjoyed learning about the intricacies of the different variations and weaves that go into the creation of each carpet. An art form that Moroccans take immense pride in, and after seeing the gorgeous selection of carpets I understand why.

After hours spent touring the bustling medina we bid good day to Josef, who as it turns out is a wonderful guide who speaks 6 languages. His great sense of humor is matched only by his great wealth of knowledge. I will be forever grateful to him for planning such a wonderful day and experience in Marrakech.

Marrakech Souks

Later that day we headed out to roam the souks, slowly making our way through the narrow passages towards Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Along the way we passed veiled women, clambering mule carts, and endless stalls. We could not help but stop to purchase handmade leather babouche slippers, Moroccan argon oil, spices, amber soaps and the most lovely silver trays, water decanters and brass lanterns. Though I must admit, haggling was part of the fun!

When we arrived at Jemaa el-Fnaa we were enchanted by the spectacle we saw before us. Fortune tellers, henna artists, singers, healers and fakirs all gathered in this cultural epicenter to entertain us. It reminded me of a fairy-tale like circus, very much what I had imagined as a child. It was magical. And when a snake charmer draped my neck with a serpent and cobra and told me I would receive baraka or good luck, I knew Marrakech and I were meant to be.

As the sun began to set over the square the real excitement began. This mysterious place became the land of Arabian fantasies. Troupes of costumed acrobats, storytellers, healers and other colorful characters dazzled us, as the air filled with the aromatic fumes from the food stands that quickly turned the square into a venue for alfresco dining.

The food is prepared hot and fresh along the many rows of countless food stalls. They are all wonderful, but stall #12 was our favourite serving up delicious shish kebabs, salads, Tajines and couscous. The entire square is dark with the exception of the gas lamps that light up the food vendors cooking area and illuminates the towers of greasy smoke sailing over the Jemaa. This was the perfect way to end off our first day in Marrakech, and as we returned to the Riad we were filled with a sense of childlike adventure and looked forward to tomorrow.

Marrakech - A Study in Contrasts

I took a journey across oceans, continents and desert on a quest to make a little girl's dream come true. It just happens that little girl used to be me!

All my life I have dreamed of visiting North Africa’s most fascinating city – MARRAKECH - curious to discover why this Moroccan oasis has been a muse for artists and writers alike for centuries. And as we descended the taxi and entered the médina to walk along ancient paths steeped in mystery, I knew Marrakech was everything I hoped it would be.

Inside the médina we were immersed in a world of exuberant color palettes, exotic scents, potions and sounds. Within moments we were approached by vendors bestowing us with gifts of amber, cinnamon and spice in hopes of luring us to their stands filled with mounds of spices in vibrant hues and a never endless array of handcrafted goods. It can feel overwhelming at first, but in time this playful ritual between you and the merchants becomes part of the allure.

When we arrived at our riad after walking through the labyrinth of shops and alleys, what lay hidden within this walled-courtyard house deep in the medina can only be described as paradise. Everything about Riad Azoulay is a delight for the senses.

The courtyard is open to a majestic sky that beautifully reflects onto the pool below. The air, surprisingly cool given the warm temperatures, is filled with the melodic sound of fountain water.  The entire space is skilfully decorated with Moroccan furnishings, ornate carvings, Berber carpets, Zelig tile and lovely fabrics. There is an exquisite attention to detail which indicates this was a labor of love for the owners, Massimiliano and Alessandro; two Italian expats that now call Marrakech home.

Our room, decorated with a 4 poster bed and rich fabrics in lavender and gold, was fit for a queen and for that moment in time I felt like one. And as we later sat poolside enjoying our first of many traditional Moroccan mint teas and snacking on homemade cookies, we were intoxicated by this exotic oasis and wondered if this was what eternal peace felt like…

Marrakech we quickly discovered is a study in contrasts. There is the bustling medina, Berber markets and antique buildings, but there is also a sophisticated, sleek and bohemian side to Marrakech that perfectly fuse to create a city that pulsates energy and provides mounds of inspiration.