Marrakesh 2
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
Day 10 – Friday, January 19, 2024
This was the day we didn’t see coming. Neither Dave nor I had read the itinerary well enough to realize we had a day to roam Marrakesh on our own. Of all the cities, it makes sense to select Marrakesh: it’s modern and vibrant with plenty of things on offer.
We made arrangements to spend the day with Claire and Andy from Southhampton, England and Andy from North Wales. The five of us navigated our way on foot to the Jardin Majorelle, a garden created by artist Jacques Majorelle.
However, before entering we decided a cappuccino was in order and walked into Les Cafes Dubois just outside the garden. There we had probably our best cappuccinos while in Morocco.
The garden was nice, but rather small and unexciting. Nevertheless, it took up the time we needed until meeting some others for lunch.
At 1 pm we met up at Manzah l'koutoubia, where Carey, Cayla, & Natasha joined us after their spa time at a traditional hammam. They went to a “traditional” hammam, so it sounds like things got a little more “intimate” then they had expected. No worries, they are much cleaner and closer now.
It actually rained during lunch. Thankfully the rooftop had covers and heaters. After a long lunch together, most of the group took a taxi back to the hotel, but the rain had let up so Dave, Andy (Wales), and I decided to walk back (knowing just how much sitting was in our future).
We napped and then packed for our onward journeys. Later that evening, Dave and I FaceTimed mom from the pool to wish her a happy 82nd birthday.
The Eight Amigos (or I suppose we should be the Huit Amies so it’s in French) wanted to have one final dinner together. After a random Google search, Dave found Folk Marrakesh had good reviews and was within walking distance of our hotel. What a choice! There Dave, Andy, Claire, Andy, Carey, Cayla, Natasha, and I had an evening we will never forget—good food and happy hour pricing on drinks—folk music; followed by DJ mixing, drumming, singing, and the whole restaurant dancing; following by live singing; followed by women dancing. It was quite a night to remember!
While walking to the Jardin Majorelle, we saw this cat apparently wishing he could enjoy a spa day too.
Hey, what about cats?!
Cappuccino at Les Cafés Dubois just outside the garden.
Andy, Claire, Andy, Dave, & me inside Jardin Majorelle.
Jacques Majorelle was a French painter who settled in Marrakech in 1919.
Majorelle chose Berber blue for his studio and as a motif running through the iconic garden where he cultivated a large collection of cacti and palms.
The garden was restored in the 1980s by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
In a small exhibition on love, I think you were supposed to find the year you found love. I guess I found it in 1990, but I’ll settle for the year we were married.
Ah, memories…back in the good ol’ days when smoking was cool.
Random shot
THE Eight: Dave, Andy, Andy, Claire, Cayla, Carey, me, and Natasha ready for lunch on the rooftop at Manzah l'koutoubia.
Quinoa bowl for our rainy lunch at Manzah l'koutoubia.
Walking back to our hotel after lunch.
Eight of us went to dinner at Folk Restaurant. Notice the Folk symbol appears to be a stylized version of the symbol for the Berber peoples.
Dave and Cayla with Claire photobombing.
My dinner at Folk: falafel burger on a pita bun.
Me, Claire, Andy, Cayla, Dace, Carey, Andy, and Natasha.
