After all the work, the Robert rendez-vous, and a stroll around our favorite spots in London, we had a five day trip to Marrakesh, Morocco.
Old stucco and cement buildings colored of red clay, bland by wear, time, weather, moped and donkey cart crashes, local material, and just plain cultural preference. Narrow cracked stone pathways, broken pieces of walls with wires amiss, and darting cats cautious and running underfoot. Tunnels to follow, leading to somewhere, others nowhere. A small wooden, creaking, dark aged door upon which to knock.
Now enter the open air and sun filled rooms with color tiles surrounding all sides. There are a collection of fountains, vibrant foliage, more wooden doors, sitting spaces with an abundant supply of pillows, and the glow of lanterns at every turn. Welcome inside the Riad, any Riad. You've entered a parallel universe. Have some mint tea (no really you must).
Our highlights:
- I love mazes - who needs maps
- 'The' bread - one kind - every day - every meal - one kind - we came to love it
- Overly friendly 'help' at every turn - its worth 10-20 dirhams and it may just get you where you are trying to go
Being awoken at the crack of dawn for prayer call- Mountains that look just like New Mexico
- Delicious food - brochettes til you drop
- Intoxicating spices, herbs, and souks (markets)
- Feeding a baby camel
- Friendly welcoming people
- A moroccan 'bath' like no other
- The flurry of activity day and night
- Hiking everest (oh nevermind it was just a waterfall)
- Tradition and diligent work at every turn
- The thrill of a delapidated bridge (or two)
- Beautifully tiled mosques, doorways, fountains, and floors
- Negotiation! and the joy of speaking some French everyday
