Marrakesh Mania

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Clunegapyears

12/12-16/12/2024

Check out day after a week in a lovely apartment. Our host liked us so much she’d offered us a proper home cooked breakfast, sadly we had to refuse due to time pressures.

Kerstin and I took a full car load from our apt to the Riad, which we’ve booked for my 60th birthday. Gated entrance. Long driveway. Staff assisted with unloading. We didn’t have time to look around but the vibes were good. Back to the apt to collect Corrie and James and onto the airport to greet family, all arriving on the same flight.

*Aged Ps were first through at the airport as assisted.*

I took the Aged P’s and Maddy in the car whilst the others went in a mini bus. The Riad had organised all our taxis / minibuses whilst with them.

On arrival we were given a tour of the Riad and chose our rooms. Two buildings around a large pool. Huge suites. Heaters on. Lots of break out areas.

The Riad had lots to do. Louis and Ellie both plunged in the pool. Then straight out. Four of us had a massage. Gran did well in the pétanque competition. Clare gave up on tennis as her knees gave up. Table tennis. And Chris had a minor meltdown on the mini golf. Lots of board games. The Riad was so relaxing, even the next generation weren’t bothered about spending time in the city centre.

We had booked self catering with 2 evening meals. We hadn’t expected a full time staff. He was the gardener, who seemed to work evenings so we only were ever aware of his shadow. She was a poppet who was in charge of housekeeping. She had 2 ladies to support her cooking the meals and breakfast every day. Our rooms were made up every morning… a bit of an embarrassment on the first morning for the untidy amongst us! We couldn’t have booked anywhere better.

Trips were a walking tour around Marrakesh. We hired our own guide so we could factor in a tea and pee stop. Informative.

And Marjorelle Gardens. Restored by Yves St Laurent. Expensive tickets. And so busy you have to follow a set route. Extremely disappointing. The YSL museum of dresses was one room only. Nowhere in the gardens to sit and ponder. Too busy. The Berber museum was cold in its presentation. Not good value. Wish I’d know as we would have taken the family to Anima gardens which was fabulous.

I was made a real fuss of for my birthday. Gifts, which I’d not expected, as folk coming over was gift enough. I am truly blest with my family. We had the Riad cook for us … best of Moroccan food.

We had two meals out in Marrakesh. Shams rooftop was very good with professional service. But the Clock Cafe was truly rubbish food and service. Wish we’d booked all evening meals at the Riad.

On the 17th I took Kerstin for an early flight. The family left the Riad at 12.30. J and I set off mid morning.

Just fabulous.

More Marrakesh

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Clunegapyears

11th December 2024

J stayed in the apt with Corrie as he is preparing a talk to give in Crete.

The 5* La Mamounia hotel allows non staying guests to wander around admiring the decor and gardens, which were created by the founder of the Marjorelle Gardens. I fancied the tasting menu at €120, but settled with a €5 homemade ice cream
https://mamounia.com/fr/?utm_medium=google&utm_source=MyBusiness
I managed to leave my phone in their toilets. Of course, there, it was handed in.

The Saadian tombs were walled up and left as I guess destroying your predecessors ancestors brings bad luck. Opened to the public in 2017. Some lovely plaster work, which has some parts unusually picked out with coloured paint.

*Saadian Tombs with some lovely plasterwork*

We wove our way to the tanneries. A self appointed guide explained that the small tanneries were right for Arab but left for Berber. Not sure about this, but he did guide us to the main cooperative. We could see men cleaning the hides and the carpet covered dying pits.

*Many more small tannaries than Fez and the market area around is much more authentic than the touristy souk*

A shared lunch of chicken brochette and omelette Berber. Big booze shop on the way home … the family arrive tomorrow! Yay.

Marrakesh

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Clunegapyears

07/12/24 – Gueliz the New Town

New Town lived up to its name – but very pleasant. Some greenery for Corrie to wee in – and the same coffee shop twice for a break, helped with auto logging into the WiFi.

*Another Bake Off bake: Paris Brest. Delicious*

*The only building we saw of significance: the opera / ballet / theatre – impressive*

*The Jnane el Harti gardens were leafy, well irrigated and tranquille*

*Not a patch on the architecture of the new Casablanca*

08/11 – Marrakesh Introduction Walk

This good self guided city introduction walk was about 7 km.

Lots of souks – the inevitable coffee stop. A bit too crowded for us. The most tourists we’ve seen anywhere. Added in are mopeds zooming and weaving through the narrow streets.

*Kooutoubia mosque: built in 1147. Nice park for Corrie out the back of it*

*Wooden scaffolding and collapsed buildings. Cleaned up but still witness to last year’s September earthquake*

*Place Jemaa el Fna . Past monkeys and snake charmers. But don’t take a pic, as you’ll have to pay for it! Need to put a load of coins in our pockets*. *The wild dog followed Corrie for a while – tagged so neutered*, *and friendly*

Stopped for late lunch on the way back to the apartment – excellent – K had chicken skewers and I had cheese burger with drinks for €10. About half the price of the tourist restaurants. No need for dinner…

09/12/24 – Nature created and destroyed

Jardins Anima

An early start – I walked Corrie at 5.5 centigrade! Brass monkey weather! We drove through dense fog to Garden Anima – watching the commuters pouring into Marrakesh from the opposite direction. The garden was amazing and Corrie was allowed in – just freezing cold and we had no extra clothes layers. Lots of cacti, water features, hammocks, tree sculptures and excellently maintained. A real treat!

The gardens opened in 2010, created by Andre Hellier as a place to make people smile. And they did. Really enjoyed just wandering the narrow paths to see what was around the corner.

Ourika valley

The afternoon went downhill in an uphill sort of way… up a valley in search of waterfalls. The track was through tatty cafes and shops with not nice wares and lots of rubbish – unpleasant really. We saw 3 places we could have dressed in Berber costume and had our photo taken. So much crap commerce, it was actually hard to see the river. The final straw was badly and boldly painted rocks at the first waterfall. Soldiers insisted that K delete an innocent photo. Time to about turn and get the hell out of there. Driving back down the valley, we swerved at least 30 times avoiding men and boys trying to get us to park and eat.

Back to the apartment via a cheese and crackers lunch in our not ancient Merc and to reflect on our day of nature created and destroyed.

10th December – Kerstin & Marrakesh

I collected Kerstin from the airport. She managed to smuggle more than her wine quota in by telling customs that she was travelling with the man behind!

*Always a welcome visitor when she comes laden with white chocolate!*

Back to our lovely apt for lunch. Then we had a wander in Marrakesh. J nobly drowned in cokes whilst K and I went into the Medersa, university accommodation, and then the Bahia palace.