Mesmerizing Marrakech ....

{All photos by my daughter and belong to Iced VoVos}

So sorry for the lack of posts recently, as it has been a week and a bit since I got back from Morocco and all I can say is that it was everything and more than I expected. I picked up a stomach bug on the flight home ... hence the lack of posts!

The sights, smells, sounds and the feelings that you are greeted with when you arrive in such an exotic place like Marrakech are so overwhelming, that you need a long cool drink to start to get your thoughts together, before you even start to tackle the place.

From the incredible arid countryside followed by lush green palms that welcome you as you fly into the city from the air, is only a small indication of what awaits you when you finally arrive within the gated walls of the medina. The juxtaposition of the shanty towns followed by the enormously built hotels on the outskirts are quite surreal. The hustle and bustle and sounds from the medina are quite overwhelming, but the excitement within is one where you cant wait to get out and explore.

The riad La Maison Arabe, which we stayed at, was a wonderful oasis in the midst of chaos ... Just like most of the riads and hotels (well not all the hotels) in town, from the outside it looked like just a clay wall in a very narrow alleyway, but once inside ... it was literally a calming oasis and the staff could not have been more accommodating and helpful. The riad was beautifully decorated in the traditional moroccan style and was well appointed with a wonderful restaurant and many courtyards where you could sip mint tea and feast on moroccan delights, as well as a quaint piano bar for a late night drink.

We visited historical sites, beautiful gardens (Marjolle gardens are highly recommended), dinned at wonderful restaurants, Palais Jad Mahal and the Le Marocain restaurant at La Mamounia Hotel, shopped the Souks, visited the Atlas mountains and a few of the Berber villages ... and camel trekked.

We took hundreds and hundreds of photos (which I could bore you with, but wont) and could not have had a better time ... a real feast for the senses!

It was a shame I picked up something on the flight home and was thankful it didnt happen during the 4 days we were there.

I guess it comes with the territory ...

xx