Morocco Part Two

Katie and I decided that we couldn't visit Morocco without doing ANY sight-seeing, and despite being sun-worshippers, there is only so much sunbathing in 38 degree heat you can do (read as: we started peeling very badly). Therefore, one morning we got up a little earlier to avoid the midday sun and headed into the centre for a little bit of culture.

First up we visited the Jardin Majorelle, otherwise known as the Yves Saint Laurent garden (as he bought it many years ago and reformed it to its beautiful state). It is full of plants and flowers of every different colour and shape, from all around the world. You didn't know where to look!

I managed to get a couple of photos of Katie strolling through the gardens when she wasn't looking…

One of my favourite parts was actually the 'Love Gallery'. It housed beautifully bright, simple pieces of art, all incorporating the word 'Love.' I wanted to take them all home and have them covering my bedroom wall!

After pointing out my favourite cacti to Katie (from Mexico FYI) we headed to the Saadian tombs. The tombs comprise the bodies of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty that originated in the valley of the Draa River.The ornate artwork on the ceilings and the tombs themselves was beautiful.

After that we stopped for a street-side drink at a cute café with red roses on the tables…

Lastly, we strolled over to the Koutoubia mosque, the highest building in Marrakesh (no other building is allowed to be higher than a palm tree) which means you can see it for miles.

There were hundreds of mats rolled up outside it, presumably ready to be put out for prayers.

Needless to say on the holiday we ate a LOT of yummy food. Meat anyone?

The other great meal we had in the centre of Marrakesh was at a place called Café Arabe. It's a bit of a mission to get to (and for us, involved someone leading us through the souks and then demanding a 'present' for his help) but once you get there it's a little courtyard haven, with little white tables and beautiful lanterns scattered around. It was our last night, so we decided to have one last special Moroccan meal. I went for the lamb tagine with tomatoes and onions, and Katie went for the lamb cous cous with onions and raisins. It was GORGEOUS.

One last mention has to be the traditional spa treatment we had on our third day, a 'hammam.' We were led into a room in just our bikini bottoms (scandalous) and lay on heated mats with water poured over us. We were then scrubbed to within an inch of our lives with various different products used, and then finished with a massage. I have never felt so clean in all my life. It definitely wasn't great on the 'burnt bits', but our skin was silky smooth afterwards and I could have lain there for another hour with her massaging my head and shoulders. Definitely an experience if you're in Morocco.

So there you have it, a few highlights from our week away! If you're considering Morocco at all, I'd seriously recommend it. Our whole week came to under £500, and it was such a great experience that I think it would suit all travellers alike. Yes you do need to be a little street savvy, but no more than you would in any foreign city, and the people are generally so friendly and the food delicious. And if you choose La Maison des Oliviers (which I HIGHLY recommend) say hi from Katie and I!