mosaic road

End of Class Break-up Lunch Extraordinaire

My intensive week of Arabic classes has ended and the class had a celebratory  break-up lunch. OMIGOD !! We did it in style. The owner of the above boutique cultural guest house was in the group and invited us to a light luncheon and a wander around the 9 acres of gardens attached to the 24 room hotel.

The day was perfect for al fresco eating and it was so much fun to sit chatting and laughing [in English] with such an interesting group of people from all parts of the globe. We ate beautifully prepared open faced vegetarian tarts - eggplant and red onion - and a wonderful salad of greens and radishes with all components grown on the property. Artisan breads were served with olive oil for dipping and that too was made from olives grown right there at Jnane Tamsna. 

 

Walking to School - part 3

Most of the streets in Marrakech , both big and small, are lined with orange trees. No scurvy here !! They are just beautiful to see and so fruit laden. City councils in Melbourne could certainly take a leaf out of this book I think. Nature strips could so easily be planted with citrus trees like this. They don't lose their leaves, they have sweet smelling blossoms, they don't require huge amounts of water and passers by can munch on something fresh and healthy.

Walking to School - part 2

I am used to shopping in enormous stores but really a small store can be just as good. This little shop is the equivalent of Officeworks. On reading the sign I can see that all the same services are offered and even a letterbox is strategically placed. I am sure the service is way more personalized too.

I actually know the location now of three post boxes in Marrakech which pleases me no end as so many times when I have travelled letter boxes are totally elusive so post cards then have to be  left in the hands of hotel staff making it unlikely they will ever be mailed. You may wonder why I am posting mail in this day and age but snail mail is really the only way I can stay in touch with my mother who is 90 and does not email, skype, text  or viber. 

Walking to School - part 1

I walk to my Arabic class each day . It is a good 30 minute stroll along a busy thoroughfare via a mainly suburban area. If you live in Melbourne think Dandenong Rd, but with only 4 lanes of traffic not 8. I pass blocks of apartments, villas and a variety of shops including many bathroom renovation stores and ceramic tile outlets plus a big McDonalds. Mixed up between them all are assorted  patisseries, cafes, motorbike mechanics, banks and one nice hygienic looking butcher . The one stop shop that did catch my eye was the car wash where you can also have your rugs washed and dried. Interesting but useful combination . I know in Melbourne a similar place exists but offers a dog wash combined with the car wash. Easier, I would think, to transport your dog to be washed as opposed to your lounge room rug !!! 

 

I have seen no sign of mobile steam cleaners here, take note Mr Cheap as Chips if you are looking to branch out. What did come immediately to mind was the summer rug washing scene  I witnessed in Helsinki a couple of years ago where rugs are lugged down to the river and scrubbed clean then left drying in the sun on a rack.

Long Distant Drooling

Here are my two favourite desserts, a trifle and a pavlova both featuring heavenly summer berry fruits.  I did not make them. I didn't even get the tiniest taste of them, sadly,  as they were created and served on the other side of the world. My oldest daughter was the recent chef and I cannot even say  here that she learnt at the feet of the master. I have never had any sucess with making pavlova often ending up with a very flat, tough, sticky disc. So much so that I have resorted to buying the big commercial variety from the supermarket. As for trifle making, well, I come at the distant end of  a long line of very successful and experienced trifle makers.  It is not worth me competing so I just stick to the eating or for now, salivating from afar.

Talking the Talk

Today I launched myself into another unknown !!

I started a week long intensive crash course in Darija, the Moroccan conversational Arabic. So every morning I will be trudging off to school. I just wish to know a few basics to use on a daily basis. I am not seeking to hold a political discourse or debate but just aim to become familar with greetings and numerals. It will not be easy proving that you can teach an old dog new tricks and if there are no blog posts for the rest of the week then it probably because I am in detention !!

Sunday Lunch with a Bonus

You never really know what will happen in Morocco on any given day. Today I met a friend for lunch. We went to cafe attached to a hotel. I had passed it many times walking to and from my job. From the street frontage you would never know  but it has an incredible roof top  terrace with a more than incredible 360 degree view over the New Town of Marrakech, all the way to the mountains. Apartments and their monster saucer style satellite dishes stretch far into the distance.

 

And above is my favourite photo as it brings the old and the new into play .

 A towering mosque  representing a religion that stems from 610 AD is surounded by satellite dishes that beam 21st century television viewing  into modern apartments. Says it all about Marrakech, a city where ancient and modern merge into one colorful tapestery.

Dream Date

Don't be misled here as I am not about to wax lyrical about a romantic liason I may or may not have had !! But I will wax lyrical about a subject close to my heart, the Medjool date.  At Christmas time I was on the receiving end of a box of these locally grown dates. Sometimes they are called the "crown jewel of dates" as they are so big and so rich in flavour. Not only that but they apparently contain just 66 calories per date - that's all very well - but who can stop at one !!!

 

Fusion Food - an unusual combo !!

Heinz tomato sauce or ketchup has been around since 1876 and apparently can be found in the homes of 97% of  Americans. Pastilla is a traditional and elaborate type of Moroccan pie featuring layers of shredded pidgeon or squab between finer than fine phyllo pastry . One layer  of the pie verges on the sweet as it consists of toasted ground almonds, cinnamon and sugar. The top of the pie is sprinkled with more cinnamon and  icing sugar. So I was amazed so see a member of the riad staff - they shall remain nameless and they are Moroccan - putting a slug of commercial tomato sauce on a serve of pastilla, painstakingly made here on site. { And it really does to hours to make and then construct.} Not the type of fusion that foodies would immediately think of !!! Whilst Mr Heinz would be thrilled to see the versatility of his product , any chef who spent hours creating a pastilla would be suitably horrified i'm sure !!!