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Marrakesh: and a tale of Peacock Pavilions and its cocktails

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It must be Spring time because I'm serving cocktails at Peacock Pavilions made with flowers and herbs from our organic garden.  

*hibiscus flower cocktail with tequila  
*lemongrass lemonade with gin 
*lavender lovely with vodka.  {to name just a few}  

Every cocktail starts with a homemade simple syrup infused over low heat with the herb or flower.  It couldn't be easier but it's still special and unexpected.

{So I know it's Monday but cocktail, anyone?}

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What are you drinking at your place?

PS Subscribe to My Marrakesh here.  And let's be friends on Facebook here .

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Marrakech: a tale of design at Peacock Pavilions

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Peacock Pavilions is a handmade place.  In a long fit of craziness, it's all made by hand (right down to the cement pavers of the paths, for which we made molds, mixed the cement and poured on site).   When I look around my home, I see a series of projects strung together, one memory after another.  There are parts that are wonky and parts that are plain old not right.  But like a homemade cake, it's still suprisingly delicious to me (especially with great whirls of frosting).

My dear friend Melanie Royals is in Marrakech for her annual decorative painting retreat at Peacock Pavilions with a group of very talented painters. This time, we've collaborated on something very special.  Here's a little peek.

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What do you think? Pretty right?
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PS A set of one of a kind Moroccan cushions in Red Thread Souk.  Fantastic talismanic patterns (and price includes shipping!).  Add bohmian flair to your home in a flash!
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Marrakesh: and a tale of an exciting update at Peacock Pavilions.

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Dear Friends,

It’s been a busy time at Peacock Pavilions, in terms of work and play.  I thought I’d share with you a few fun things that have been happening!

  • A while back you might have remembered that I wrote about our involvement in an Irish reality TV show, called WWOOFÁIL, about volunteers who WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).  Peacock Pavilions was chosen as one of six sites for the show because we’ve had WWOOFers since we opened.  The show began airing on the Irish station TG4 on March 21 at 10 p.m., and you can watch it on TG4’s player- www.tg4.tv.  The episode at Peacock Pavilions is the last in the series and will broadcast on April 25.  Tune in if you can (I haven’t seen it myself and so will be watching, too!). The two stars of the show -- Mairéad Ní Chuaig and Conall Ó Máirtín -- are adorable!  

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  •  We feel so fortunate to have recently had Peacock Pavilions shot by talented Danish stylist Lykke Foged and amazing Danish photographer Morten Holtum. These two take a very pure and personal approach to their work and I really enjoyed getting to know them.  Looking forward to publication sometime soon:-) 
  • I am very excited to be a small part of a new avant-garde business magazine (print and online) called, Cake and Whiskey, geared towards businesswomen.  In the next year, the magazine is teaming up with amazing companies like Cartier and Citi, and women’s organizations such as Women Impacting Public Policy and 85 Broads to reach women globally.  If you are a businesswoman or would like to be, I urge you to consider subscribing to Cake and Whiskey.  You can get 25% off your subscription with the code MM25.  {You’ll see my face and some business-oriented tips from me in the Summer issue.}
  • I mentioned to you that we were thrilled to have Peacock Pavilions featured in the German Magazine, Flair - Fashion & Home.  What we didn't know is that our house made the cover (cartwheels!). 

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Hope Spring has sprung wherever you are:-) 

                as ever, in a Marrakesh olive grove,

                                            Maryam

PS Crazy about Pinterest these days.  Check out my boards right here.  Also let's chat on Twitter hereif you are so inclined.  

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Marrakesh: a tale of Hassan Hajjaj and Riad Yima

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I love stories  of redemption, of meteoric rises.  

Hassan Hajjaj told me that growing up his parents were so poor that they couldn't afford to buy him a single toy.  He used to comb the Moroccan beach near his home to see what the sea washed up.  He made his own toys, with the sea's discards.  

As a teenager, a low paid job for Hassan's father brought the whole family to London. They lived nine in a single room without a bathroom. 

But Hassan saw in the world something different.  He broke free and made his own way, becoming a club manager, a shop owner, a fashion designer, a lauded photographer. 

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And then Hassan went back to Morocco and bought Riad Yima, his Marrakech courtyard house.

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And had everything he never grew up with.

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Riad Yima is also a shop, featuring Hassan's own pop modern designs.

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Upcycled lanterns and furniture...
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And, of course, Hassan's iconic photography.

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If you're in Marrakech....make sure to drop by for a glass of mint tea...

 Riad Yima
52 derb Aarjane Rahba lakdima Medina
Marrakech Morocco
Tél: +212 (0) 524-391-987
E-mail: riadyima@yahoo.co.uk