Marrakech, Morocco: and a tale that might make you smile

Oh, things might happen this week.  Annoying things.  Frustrating things. Things that might make you throw your hands up in the air, or shake your head, or mutter under your breath.

But when they do, try to remember that you {yes, you} are one of the lucky ones.  Really.  

Right?  Right. 

{Well, I'm glad we got that squared away.}

  

 

 

 

 

 
 Some of my colleagues in the Morocco office.

PS  Thank you Tripbase for your Travel Photography award. So nice.  Right here.

PPS Brand new stock of gorgeous Moroccan Beni Ourain carpets and sequinned wedding blankets.  Too pretty not to take a peek.  Right here.

Marrakech, Morocco: and a tale of surfing in a landlocked city

When I was young (oh so many years ago) and just dating now husband Chris, he used to chase storms with his band of friends.  Someone would hear of a squall brewing somewhere and calls would be made.  Then surfboards would be loaded onto a dilapidated four-wheel drive vehicle, and they would head out.  The windows rolled down, the Beach Boys cranked up. 

I'm not sure that any of them were terribly good surfers.  But there was something about those waves and those winds that had enspelled them. 

But then there was me and adventures in far off lands.  And somehow those journeys brought us here to Marrakech, a city with no sea.  So now the only surfing my husband sees is on a screen in our Moroccan tent at Peacock Pavilions. 

 
 
There remains a kind of longing in his eyes -- a sacrifice (one of many) that he has made for me.

Please, oh please, let's pretend that dessert ...

and tea....

 
 makes it better...

Marrakech: and a magic-filled tale of Tahir Shah

Oh, I was in a good mood when the night started but I had a no idea of the evening that lay before me.

 
Because near a secret garden in Riad El Fenn, a happening was, well, happening.

 
Yes, there was delicious food.

 
And yes, there was mysterious lighting.  But that was not all. 

 
 You see Tahir Shah, the illustrious writer of The Caliph’s House, was speaking.  His introduction was made with great fanfare.

 
And if I am not mistaken, golden horns hanging from the ceiling let out a blare or two.

  Tahir held the audience enrapt, while he told tales of genies and exorcists ………  And all things in between.

 

Lovely long lashed girls listened entranced…

 
While Tahir’s beautiful wife looked on bemused. {One sensed that she was somewhat of a genie expert, herself.}

 
And even the riad’s owner, Vanessa Branson (of the same talented gene pool as her brother, Richard ) looked rather pleased.

 
 My last view?  Why of Tahir in an arched Moroccan doorway, the walls glowing a deep and perfect red. 

 

Marrakech: and a tale of Meriem's birthday at the Bab Restaurant

It was Meriem's birthday, you see.  And so we headed for the Bab Restaurant in Marrakech to celebrate.

We admired the stylish decor.

 
There were poufs made out of shimmery plastic in Moroccan upcycled chic.

 
 and vines climbing up the trellised walls on the inside.  So pretty.

 
 There was gossiping at the bar.  Ahem, of course.

 
The birthday girl,  a Moroccan stylist, looked pensive.

 But her darling husband brought drinks replete with ingredients like mint and ginger.

 
 And my silly husband told jokes.

 
Then a magician appeared out of nowhere and told Meriem to pick a card, any card.

 
 He correctly guessed Meriem's queen, of course.

 
 Soon she was back to her regular mischevous ways.

 
I think that she and Yves Saint Laurent realized that there is only one thing you need on your birthday and every day.