mosaic road

Desperately Seeking Submersion, part two

I have been trying very hard to get in as many pool days as possible before I have my three week vacation in the freezing Melbourne winter. What's more someone has to do it !! I view it as pure research for the riad guests. Nothing can be better than first hand experience and I am happy to be the waterlogged guinea pig. The pools come in all shapes and sizes, old and very new like this one at Dar Sabra. The property is vast as is the open air dining room with its floor to ceiling murals. And so my aquatic challenge is in full swing as you can see..........

Desperately Seeking Submersion

North Africa has a relentlessly hot summer. Full stop. Known fact. Been the same for ever. But it does not stop every Moroccan man and his donkey complaining about it. This amuses me greatly. I am Australian and used to hot summers but the temperatures here skyrocket (think 50 C plus) on a daily basis to much, much higher than my Melbourne experiences. So the cure when overwhelmed by the feeling that you live in a furnace is a pool day. Lots of hotels offer a pass for lunch and a day by and in the pool. I love these days spent with water up to my neck, submerged to my chin. Luckily I can buy 80+ sunscreen and never leave home without it.

Dining at Dusk

Some of the best advice for the tourist visiting Marrakech is to find a roof top cafe close by or on the perimeter of the main square and sit, with drink in hand, watching the sun go down. The velvety dusk and the vast pink tinged skies are all encompassing as no highrises block the view. I was in Cafe Guerrab not long ago and enjoyed a light dinner at dusk whist watching the skies from on one of their pretty terraces. There are lots of choices on their blackboard menu and sunhats to share and wear if you visit during the heat of the day.

 

Brekky

Last month in the UK, I came face to face with quite a few classic full English breakfasts. I saw items I had not seen for nearly two years. And apart from novelty value I had no real interest in eating them. I can and have lived without bacon (and most other meats) very happily and felt ambivalent when I saw it and did not bother serving myself even a single rasher from the buffet. Same with the sliced bread. Morocco has great bread, mostly in the pita flat bread style and I love it so a slice of white starch was not at all tempting. I have  always enjoyed a smidge of Marmite and also the Aussie mainstay Vegemite but do not become a desperado as some do, living without it, so passed on these tiny individual serves. The jam, sorry preserve,  on the other hand, did interest me  as it was so quintessentially English and a black currant is rare in Australia and never to be seen here in Morocco. I did not sample but was very tempted to pocket a few little jars for later on as I bet it was really yum.

A Little Light Luncheon, part two

La Famille has a beautiful and very lush garden with tables and chairs tucked into shady niches, so pretty. Sunhats available if you forget yours. Great coffee too. This cafe really is shabby chic meets Morocco. It's hard to believe that the craziness of the medina is only a few metres away.

A Little Light Luncheon, part one

La Famille is a fresh, whitewashed garden cafe with concept store (of course) in Marrakech. It is deep in the medina and one of those complete surprises that by now I should be getting used to. I went on the hottest day possible when just  normal breathing was sauna-esque. Only lunch is served and no meat, perfect for ladies who lunch. Drinks served in mason jars, dips served in screw top jam jars, gorgeous unleavened flat bread, fresh ingredients, all fabulous but for one thing. Bad service and sadly our drinks were just never served . When its 45 C the drinks should be the priority. I will go back, no question, as I so want this place to succeed. Their menu is perfect when you just aren't up for another tagine !!!

A Little Light Luncheon

La Famille is a fresh, whitewashed garden cafe with concept store (of course) in Marrakech. It is deep in the medina and one of those complete surprises that by now I should be getting used to. I went on the hottest day possible when just  normal breathing was sauna-esque. Only lunch is served and no meat, perfect for ladies who lunch. Drinks served in mason jars, dips served in screw top jam jars, gorgeous unleavened flat bread, fresh ingredients, all fabulous but for one thing. Bad service and sadly our drinks were just never served . When its 45 C the drinks should be the priority. I will go back, no question, as I so want this place to succeed. Their menu is perfect when you just aren't up for another tagine !!!

The Black Horse

After the brown horse had paraded and promenaded we watched a magnificently trained glossy black horse do a few tricks. I know how hard dog training is so I am in awe of these Moroccan trainers who have these feisty stallions eating out of their hand, so to speak. These horses live in air conditioned comfort with green and grassy paddocks at their disposal at the Hotel Selman stables . A life of privilege indeed !!

The Brown Horse

I know nothing about horseflesh , I am a total philistine in the equine department. I have ridden a bit way back in childhood but that was a long long long time ago. If you go to brunch at Hotel Selman the  pure blood Arab horses make an appearance and strut their stuff. They are beautiful, in their prime and know it.

Respect and Scarves

These are two subjects close to my heart and go just a little bit hand in hand here in Morocco. I believe in respect, respect for the religion, culture and opinions of others, straight down the line. If we could all just do this and go about about our business, not interfering and thinking we know better, then perhaps there would or could be greater worldwide harmony. I am also a scarf lover and collector. I was once banned by my children from ever buying another. Now you can all see the real reason why I fled Australia to Morocco. It was just to further my scarf collection !!! There really is no end to the lovely scarves found in this country. Many ladies here in all age groups wear a headscarf and I always carry one. Just as many don't but I never want to offend by being uncovered and in this heat it is easy just to throw one around your shoulders and neck line. Perfect sun protection too.