Bismillah,
Welcome to my blog.
Hmmm, I’m a little nervous, starting a new blog and all. This is not as easy as it looks.
Why a new blog? For the challenge of a new creative project, to share a little of what my life is like, as woman, wife, mother of three, teacher, and seeker of beauty, living in the bustling city of Marrakesh, Morocco.
I hope that this blog will eventually provide an answer the question I am asked by so many “What is there to do in Marrakesh?”. Although (I hope) my answers may differ from the guide books.
Whether you are in Marrakesh for a day, a week, or a lifetime…whether you love it here or have been unwittingly held captive…or a little of both…this blog will have a little something for you.
So let’s start it off with a list. The best things in life are free, but as a visitor to Marrakesh, you may feel like everyone wants their cut, whether it’s that snake charmer whose picture you snapped when you thought he wasn’t looking (believe me he was), or the friendly kid who shows you the way back to your riad when you get lost in the old city labyrinth for the 17th time. But surely there must be something you can enjoy that does not leave you an Accidental Consumer.
Top 5 Cheap Thrills to Enjoy in Marrakesh:
1-The Sun. Let’s face it, that’s why there are so many direct flights from Europe to Marrakesh. (and so many rather red looking tourists blinking in the Marrakesh sun). Today, in the middle of January, while Londoners worry about whether there will be enough grit for the icy roads, Marrakshis worry about forgetting the sunscreen (or not, since most of us don’t actually use any).
2-Getting High. ODid that get your attention? Good, but I’m not talking about “that kind of high”. One of the best ways to see Marrakesh is from a rooftop. Gaze off across the Great Sea of Sattelite Dishes. The palm trees remind you that you are in the desert. And during the winter months, when the Atlas mountains receive their regal mantle of snow, and the haze is chased away by the cold, well folks that’s postcard material right there.
3-Tea. It’s the fuel that keeps Moroccans going. Available everywhere, whether its the rug seller you just sealed a deal with, or the Moroccan family you are just dropping in to see, your presence will be honored with tea. Ingredients: green gunpowder tea, mint and SUGAR. No, it’s the not the mint that makes it sweet! Just looking at a pot of Moroccan tea might give you diabetes. However, one taste of this sweet nectar, and you will succumb to its addictive powers.
4-Hospitality. Should be so lucky as to be invited into the home and hearts of a Moroccan family, take notes my friend. They will host you seemlessly, graciously. A tajine simmering in the pressure cooker, another round of tea, and the expansiveness of time unhurried. It is an experience in slowing down and enjoying the good company of loved ones, it is soul food for us westerners, it is heart expanding.
5-The Hammam. I will post more on where to go and how it’s done, hopefully, later. How does having the top layer of your skin scrubbed off sound? Painful? Au contraire, nothing could feel better, it’s totally relaxing and invigorating, and it’s the cleanest clean you’ll ever be my friend. If you do nothing else in Morocco, go to the Hammam. (but wait for my in-depth “how to” post).
What are your favorite cheap thrills in Marrakesh?
Life in Marrakesh 