They’re Taking Me To Marrakesh!

Morocco has always held a magical and mysterious allure for me, particularly the markets of Marrakesh. I have romanticized about the Crosby, Stills and Nash song ‘Marrakesh Express’ for over 50 years and the lyrics of the song echoed in my head once we landed there. It was everything I had hoped for and more.

I traveled with a group of seven women including my sister Vicki, with whom I travel often. We stayed in a riad (A traditional Moroccan Riad is a home with multiple stories centered around an open-air courtyard with a fountain. Riads were once the estates of the wealthiest citizens, merchants, and courtiers. The building is shaped like a rectangle with different rooms on each side.)

Palacio de las Especias
Our riad with my new friends, Renata and Helene

We had the riad to ourselves along with a very attentive and knowledgable staff who cooked for us and arranged for all of our transportation. We were just a short walk from the souks (a pedestrian, open air market with endless alley ways.) It was real easy to get lost in the market with its colorful tapestries, exquisite rugs, artwork, food vendors and spas.

We quickly learned the art of negotiation and were advised to offer 60-70% less than the asking price for any items we wished to purchase. I have always appreciated the esthetics of Moroccan culture and felt like a kid in a candy store. The exchange rate was very good and the money easy to convert. One US dollar equalled 100 dirham. It made negotiating a cinch. The problem was how to carry home all of the souvenirs!

I didn’t buy this, but thought it was cool.

We took a day trip to the ocean to a town called Essaouira on the coast of the Atlantic.

Essaouira is a port city and resort on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Its medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which were designed by European engineers.

Local boys diving for tourists’ amusement

Camel droppings everywhere. No, thank you.

“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall” Robert Frost

On the way to Essaouira, we stopped at a Berber women’s argan cooperative. We tried our hand at cracking argan nuts and did some damage in the gift shop.

The most remarkable thing about Morocco is the food. Tagine is both a dish and a cooking vessel. They are the original ‘slow cookers.” I thought about bringing one home but decided it would be too heavy and probably break.

Jayme, our very experienced group leader, advised us about all of the delicious foods of Morocco. Chicken Pastillas and Vegetable Tagine were my favorites and I’d like to learn how to make them at home. I bought some killer fresh spices in marketplace in Marrakesh.

Oh. And LOTS of bread and cookies. Really good bread and cookies!

We visited the Yves St Laurent Museum and Gardens. Apparently he had a home outside of the Marrakesh medina, in a more modern part of town. Several of his gowns were on display and they were all so extraordinarily and exquisitely beautiful. I wish they would have allowed us to take pictures of them.

What Really Happened

Greece is the word

TRAVEL WITH RASTAJULE