Morocco. Where 1,000 years of history lives in the streets, the spices, and the silence between the calls to prayer. Quickly get swept up in its electric energy and you understand why travelers have been captivated for centuries. Marrakech felt like the world's most cinematic ancient city - donkeys, textiles & spices set against the walls of the Red City. Tangier caught us by surprise with its beauty and European charm - where both oceans and cultures collide. Warm people, extraordinary food & service, magic and color around every corner.
The colors of the Marrakech medina
From indigos ...
to all the colors of the rainbow
How could you resist?
Srsly.
Organized colors, my favorite
An abundance of fruit around every corner
The souks in the old medina near Le Jardin Secret
Where carpets line the walls ..
Pillows stack like candy ..
And people are ready to make a deal.
Wares by wheelbarrow ..
and donkeys
A feat for the eyes, near the medina center
No one should ever go barefoot here
Dyed wool
for more carpets
and textiles
For as far as the eye can see ..
tagines ..
and more.
Wool delivery
Makers from the Atlas Mountains come in to create and wash their rugs (secret ingredient: pigeon poop)
Ingredients for a great day
And even during Ramadan, midday - sweet treats
Just a guy and his chickens
and camels with their saddles.
A fancy sidecar tour of the city and the outskirts
Marrakech Insiders gorgeous headquarters
The local side of the ancient wall
and La Palmeraie north of the city - date palm and orange groves for miles
Oranges to break the fast
The Red City
Cats. There are cats everywhere, taken care of by all.
Custom perfume making
The stunning boutique at El Fenn Hotel
Where old meets new
The YSL Museum in Jardin Majorelle (book in advance!)
The museum is perfectly done
Delights on every wall
Walls to the medina and main square, Jemaa El-Fnaa
Jemaa El-Fnaa at dusk
The stunning hammam, Les Bains de Marrakech
Details at LesBains
Waiting for his tribe
Heaven on earth
Making argan oil from the Argan tree seeds
Fountain Valley School service trip to the Atlas Mountains
And adventure trip
Adventure awaits
Kal Tenere Poolside - Agafay Dessert
Our new friends
A short jaunt on a one-humped camel named Attie
In the wild (sort of)
Agafay Dessert - a speedier transport with Agafay Tours
What teenage dreams are made of
Trying to get the shot without getting left behind .. Atlas Mountains in the background
No room, no problem
The unbeatable La Mamounia grounds. A feast for all the senses.
The maze to our Air Bnb
Our lovely 4 story Air Bnb, beautifully decorated
And our lovely hostess and chef, Imen
Tazi Palace - now a lovely Fairmont
Built in the golden era of 1926 - now with modern cocktails and snacks
Halls to the spa, quite a treat
Last day of Ramadan breakfast at Tazi's Crudo
Waiting out the Ramadan fast in Tangier
Steps to everywhere
I could not get enough of the doors
And the art on the walls
Ancient city but modern amenities
...like saffron martinis and carpaccio
The Strait of Gibraltar
Good times await
Where the Atlantic and Mediterranean collide
My pals on Playa Blanca
Old meets new, a constant contrast
A beautiful alley
Not a pampered Marin dog, but still happy!
The detail!
Spain meets Morocco on every street
The lovely Villa Mabrouka, a 1940s modernist home (and a fabulous restaurant) once owned by fashion legends Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé just outside the kasbah and medina