Magical Marrakesh

Marrakesh is a feast for all the senses… 

It is a visual delight, as I gaze upward at a splendid palace ceiling and marvel at the intricate paintwork. I turn my head to admire the walls and columns, sheathed with delicately carved geps (gypsum plaster) and elaborate zellij tile mosaics. In the medieval labyrinthe of the souks in the ancient walled medina, my head spins at the dazzling interplay of shimmering light and exuberant color… the tall cones of exotic spices for sale, the array of brilliant leather slippers and pottery, and the cacophony of donkeys, bicycles and people jostling their way through the maze of tiny lanes. Back at my riad I admire the exquisite architectural details in the lavish courtyard, punctuated by sweet orange trees.

Around the corner I follow my nose toward the alluring scent of meat sizzling in a public square. I sit at a cafe and sip mint tea, inhaling the fragrant steamy infusion.

My palate is awakened by spicy tagine, flavored with saffron, prunes, olives, lemon and a plethora of tasty delights. Juicy oranges, spiced with cinnamon, enliven my taste buds.

The nubby texture of flat-weave rugs and thick silky pile of handmade vintage wool carpets, woven by Berber women, tempt me with their deep vegetable-dyed hues. I rub my hands across a handwoven handira (wedding blanket), sparkling with tiny mirrored sequins. Smooth supple leather poufs, hand-stitched together, and brilliant gem-colored glass lanterns, reflecting the light, line the market stalls. A mélange of textures abound and delight the eye.

The morning stillness is broken by banging on metal as craftsmen hammer exquisite designs into brass Moroccan lanterns. Throughout the day, the call to prayer is sung out, in beautiful Arabic, from the 12th-century Koutoubia mosque, followed by similar calls from all the mosques in the city, until the air soon fills with a melody of calls from all directions, reminding Muslims to pray. I listen to the lilting music accompanying dancers and snake charmers in Jemaa el-Fna, the main public square, in the evening. But there is absolute peace and stillness when we escape the city to ride camels in the Sahara Desert under a blanket of twinkling stars, and again in the morning as the sun rises high above the vast dunes.  

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