Marrakech: and a birthday tale of Michelle

Ever since she had come into our lives, she had made things better.  Michelle, our Peacock Pavilions Guest Manager.  I think the universe gave her to us, somehow.  

And it was her birthday.  Well, not quite, but we were celebrating it anyway:-)

We went away to Relais du Lac. 

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (2)
It was a place on Marrakech's barrage -- outside the city an hour or so.  

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (17)
The flowers were in bloom.

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And ducks milled around with people under thatched roofs.

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There was music. The electric violinist let it slip that his regular gig is for the Moroccan royal family. {His hair is very 70's French, don't you think?}

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (115)

We ordered lunch and drank wine.  And we played ridiculous games.

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (159)
And acted like goof balls.

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And then the cake came on the day that was not her birthday.

She looked happy.

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (138)
And it felt, well, just like family.  Not a matter of last names but a matter of the heart.

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (151)

Happy Birthday, Michelle:-)

1-5.5.13 Michell's early bday lunch (202)

Images by M. Gin

Caftan 2013: a tale of Moroccan fashion & pictures - part 2

She sat next to me in the audience of the Caftan 2013. Impossibly slim.  Diamonds on her fingers and wrist.  Her Gucci coat folded neatly in her lap.  Her hair falling like a river to her waist.  She leaned towards me and said, That used to be me on that stage for the Caftan fashion shows.  

Oh, I said.  How did it feel, I asked?

Perfect, she said.  And added, Of course.  

I could only imagine...  

Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 13
Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 14
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Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 16
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Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 21
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Bewitching. Wouldn't you agree?

Caftan 2013: a tale of Moroccan fashion & pictures on the runway - part 1

Under a shower of crystal chandeliers, they floated down the runway.  

The Moroccan caftans. 

Each embroidered.  Each beaded.  Each bejeweled.  Each conjured up by one of Morocco's finest fashion designers. Painstakingly handmade in frenzies that took hundreds of hours.  

I sat riveted.  I sat enchanted.  I sat, well, enspelled.

You see, I was overcome by sheer beauty.

Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 1
Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 2
Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 3
Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 4
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Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 6

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Maryam Montague Caftan 2013 - 12
Caftan 2013 was like the sublimest of dreams.  The kind where you hoped you would never wake up.  

And there's more......tomorrow.......

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