Marrakech Travel diary day 1

I am delighted to bring you guys the Marrakech Diary of Louis Mariette, as some of you already know, last week we brought you the hotel review of Riad Siwan in Marrakech and the interview to the owners of the hotel. Today Louis brings us his day 1 experience of his journey in Marrakech…

Day 1 - from the UK to Marrakech

"A whirlwind of last-minute mayhem as I drive my over-organized partner nuts, throwing my contents into a travel bag, barking orders of brushing the cat, talk to her and water plants. Going on a trip just wouldn't be the same without a bit of chaos, it's the adrenalin of excitement I shared with my siblings since traveling with them as kids on our regular trips from Africa to school in the UK. Now as a ‘responsible’ adult...nothing has changed!!!

At the airport, OMG my travel companion is arriving, shall I hide from her, wind her up, I know better through my scars the result with those sharp talons of nails of hers it's not worth it, "Hi sis"

"What, Fly", her nickname to me, a reference to me being a disgusting little creature! So glad, age hasn't mellowed her. Big hugs, catch up on gossip as we dash off to check-in. I turn to her repeating our long-running standard joke mantra, "passport"? Her voiceless response; a pout of her lips & raising a single red nail talon. I look at her smug, I may be the stupid youngest of the family but she left her passport on the car roof many years ago as our parents drove us to the airport in Botswana in another of our travel chaos moments. This was, of course, a long-standing family joke.

الكثبان†الكرامة

The travel journal of a milliner – by Louis Mariette

If it wasn't for the African kid who found the passport on the roadside, her journey would've been terminated, most likely to her delight as it was back to school.

The reason for the trip is research for her 50th, a potential location for all her family & friends to get together for a celebration. She always wanted a trip to this part of the world and I suggested this being one of my favorite long weekend destinations. I know this has all the hallmarks of a Wendy Mariette trip; exploring souks, lost in a plethora of mind-boggling avenues festooned with a riot of colors, foods & spices in the old medina...this is North Africa, Arabic life in all its splendor.

Souking Around!

As part of the culture, souk life invariably becomes more than just a tourist destination. It is an integral part of local life that can involve the locals meeting through mosques, hammams and family dwellings. Quite literally, you can walk down an alleyway and get lost only to discover a little doorway and within it, artisans will be hard at work creating an assortment of items through a variety of skills such as wood carving, iron work, leather dying, and ceramics. Some of these crafts date back to a bygone era and yet interpret and can still be used in the modern world. As well as selling their wares, souk owners are an essential part of the local community with involvement in family and religious life.

As dyed leather lies drying on the pavement, quite literally taking over the whole area, look closer as this could be the beginnings of your future couture handbag!

This contraption of an unidentifiable machine is actually a modern version of a traditional technique of threading the rich embroidery around the edging of garments. It is far more economical on space as sometimes coming across the traditional method, there can literally be a thread running down a whole road.

For the culinary astute, the stalls are simply sublime for their endless variety of spices and herbs, some used for ailments and in hammams.

Quite literally you can see displays of food products and spiced powder pyramids stacked high for both visual impact and a method of economizing small space. But out of everything out there my top tip for all you ‘aspiring’ foodies is to flitter through the various stalls sampling different spices in search of your perfect blend of Ras el hanout which can vary from eight to eighty different spices!

Riads.

We arrived in a profusion of noise and excitement in the center of the old Medina. I’d been waiting to see the expression on my sister’s face, her first-time arrival in Morocco. She looks at me quizzically and asks why the taxi driver is not dropping us at our Riad and why the porter is taking us there instead. It soon becomes clear to her that in this city, there is barely room for a car and in its place are donkey carts laden with supplies and exotic provisions. Even though she is a seasoned traveler, I think the charming chaos that now unfolds around her may have caught her somewhat off guard. We share a laugh as she works for a high profile bank, the cool efficiency of which could not be further from our current surroundings. A motorbike whizzes past stacked high with crates of produce. The passengers: a father and his children, not a helmet in sight.

Wendy turns to me “health and safety sweetie?” she giggles. After what feels like an eternity of being taken down nameless alleyways, we finally arrive at a small non-descript door. I look over to Wendy and smile to myself knowing exactly what she’s thinking, “Where on earth has he taken me?!” Unlike me, however, she hasn’t stayed here before and doesn’t know what I know about this establishment.

The door swings open and we are now at the beginning of our experience of the glory of Moroccan hospitality. We are welcomed by a handsome gentleman by the name of Khaled, who is the manager of the Riad. He puts his hands to his heart and welcomes us with the words “Chokran.” Wendy is clearly enamored by his charm. We step from the lanes of mayhem and enter Riad Azzar. Before us is an oasis; an emerald green plunge pool surrounded by banana foliage, jasmine, and other exotic species. But what sets this establishment apart from any other is the incredibly stylish and discerning taste of our hosts, whose interior design of this exceptional guest house is beyond chic. They are the owners of Riad Siwan, who I interviewed earlier in my diary. This is their original Riad.

We are offered a selection of rooms of our choice. We are taken to the first floor where a door within a door opens into a suite that is certainly fit for two princesses.

Louis goes to Marrakesh

Riad Siwan in Marrakesh is like discovering a rare artifact. In fact, in many ways, this is exactly what it is. It is a culmination of 3 years of passionate dedication, hard work, a labor of love, by its owners. Resulting in an oasis of meticulous tranquillity where guests are enveloped in its cool, stylish interiors and unobtrusive yet charming, gracious service. The stunning interiors are a mix of using the finest local artisans, customizing objects to be a fusion of visual and proportional aspects of each room. Additionally, this Riad host some exclusive fascinating objects adorning this sanctuary from the owner's “private” collection and that is one of the many aspects that makes this the jewel of Marrakech life.

My pride meeting the ‘Dunes of Dignity’!

You couldn’t ask for a more delightful encounter with the most fabulously charming couple that is our Dutch hosts, Cees van den Berg and Maryk Stroosnijder, who owns the Riad. I was just dying to talk to them about their incredible journeys to far-flung destinations. I recognized that they have the same addiction as me of buying glorious artifacts from every country they visit and what better place to showcase their collections than amidst their tasteful interior design that makes each work of art look like the craftsman had been inspired to make it fit in that particular spot. They have beyond an incredible eye for detail. As we talk, Cees explains about each artist who designs these stunning pieces. I point to a mesmerizing hanging object made entirely out of thousands of leather straps covered with the most fascinating colored embellishments and beads. He stretches the object and it opens out and he reveals it is, in fact, a bag that is used for a camel. This is a couple after my own heart, I love every single piece, without exception! But Cees and Maryk have a little surprise in store for me. Since I was last with them, they had purchased another Riad by the name of Riad Siwan and restored this giant premise into what I can only describe as their masterpiece.

He shows me a book of the whole construction process and I gasp as I see what it used to look like at phase one, a total ruin of dust and rubble. Cees turns to me and laughs; he says, ''You have to be a mad person to take on this kind of project''. We then both laugh as he tells me that he can tell you exactly how many donkey carts have to be organized and dispatched to remove the contents of the deconstruction mess. Like a Phoenix rising, this dynamic duo is not only the perfect hosts for running a welcoming Riad but their astonishing take on creating an environment that not only displays such a great sense of style but the balance of making it a truly comfortable vibe to relax in. It is like an art gallery of ambiance.

As we are given the grand tour by this inspiring and truly the most caring, compassionate couple you could ever ask to meet, I bring up a subject I had discovered. Behind the façade as two Riad owners, are actually an incredible pair of philanthropies. They tell me of the organization that they created and tirelessly support through much of their time by generating awareness and funding for a very worthy true cause. EFA (Education For All) was started to predominantly support, help and provide education for girls from under privileged poor regions of Morocco, where getting access to education is sometimes very difficult and beyond their reach.

“Educate a boy and you educate the man; Educate a girl and you educate a family, a community, a nation.”

I got the pleasure to interview them and find out more about what this extraordinary couple has started and how they continue to promote this charity both nationally and internationally.

So for those of you with a sense of adventure, who are crazy, brave and enjoy a physical endurance challenge, then EFA’s charity fundraising cycle ride is one of the coolest, exciting memories that will be emblazoned on your mind for life. Not only will you see some of the most remarkable scenery being in the Atlas mountains, but you will travel through rural areas of this country, witnessing first-hand the real Morocco. At the end of each day of cycling when you are having a well-deserved rest and soaking your tired feet, you will appreciate the reward of inner fulfillment of helping this worthwhile charity.

Cees and Maryk have encountered and had to diplomatically deal with local customs when it can be frowned upon for a girl to go to get an education. They provide a safe sanctuary that is filled with like-minded individuals who are hungry to be given the opportunity of such a valuable and basic human right.

To find out more about this humanitarian organization, please visit: Efa Morocco

To find more about this beautiful hotel, please visit: Riad Siwan