Postcard from Marrakech
Going to Marrakech wasn’t planned. The only thing we knew was when we were going on a girls trip. So a few weeks before we would go, we looked up what the cheapest ticket was and booked a hotel in Marrakech. Oh man, we could not have chosen a better city four our girls trip! The days before the trip were filled with searches about the city, and social media was suddenly filled with pictures of Marrakech which conceded that we had made a good choice. The trip was in November and I need to say that leaving the cold winter weather for 23 degrees and the sun was so good. We arrived at the airport and took a taxi to our Riad that is close to the Souks.
Day 1
We did the whole checking-in, unpacking etc. and went into the city for lunch. The first walk through the souks took my breath away. There was so much to see, from jewelry to wooden figurines and all that pottery. Lunch was delicious and to walk it off we explored the souks a little bit further before going back to the Riad.
Day 2
The next day we traveled to Jardin Majorelle. One of the most visited sites in Morocco. The gardens were created by a young aspiring painter, Jacques Majorelle. Majorelle’s watercolors are largely forgotten today but the gardens of his home remain a creative masterpiece.
Day 3
The Islamic college Ben Youssef Madrasa also made the list of to sees because of its beautiful courtyard full of mosaics. El Badi Palace is a ruined palace once built for a sultan and then demolished by another sultan. A result is a stunning place with sunken gardens and a pool.
Day 4 – 5
A trip to the desert was not our best plan, or it was. To be fair it was kinda chaotic, with some obstacles.
First obstacle: What to pack? We were prepared for 25 degrees but not for -2 in the desert. The solution: just adds layers to your layers.
Obstacle two: We booked a tour through the owner of the Riad (Brian is the best host ever!), but when the day came we were not sure anymore if we booked a two-day tour or three days. Since we thought it would be weird to ask other people on the bus how long the tour would be we just waited until an hour before stopping to ask how long the trip would be.
Obstacle three: Getting sick, sucks permanently. When you are in the middle of the desert, in a bohemian camp and two of your best friends are sick you just feel so helpless.
It looks bad but these few days were the best! The food was awesome, if you love vegetables Marrocco is a whahala with all its tagine. The combination of sitting on a camel and seeing the sunset change into a starry sky is magical. Also don’t forget the people we got to meet, the campfire, the music, the silence in the night and the laughter. Book a trip that also takes you to Ouarzazate, to see the old Kasbahs.
Day 6
Because some of my friends got sick the last day was mostly spent in the Riad, so they could get better before we would fly back home.
