marrakech, part two

adventures in marrakech, continued —>
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we woke up early on sunday morning and took a cab to jardin majorelle outside the medina. we heard the crowds got big so we wanted to be there early and we ended up being the very first people inside after the garden opened! this place is pretty magical - cacti from all over the world, the most vivid blue paint you can imagine, an artist’s studio restored and used by yves saint-laurent. we had a peaceful thirty minute stroll around … before the tour buses arrived!
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^^ yves saint-laurent created a valentine’s card every year to send to his friends around the world, and there was a little display of them in the garden grounds. i love them! ^^
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we walked back to and through the medina...
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…to another garden, le jardin secret. the plants and buildings and tile (!!!) there were gorgeous. but the best part was the views from the tower. check out those snow-capped atlas mountains! 
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some snapshots from continued wandering around the medina’s magnificent markets...
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^^ this isn’t a great picture, but i wanted to capture a mosque (with shoes left outside). there are dozens of mosques in the medina, so this is a common sight. ^^
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we went to el badi palace and enjoyed seeing the ruins now filled with orange groves, and the some more views to the atlas mountains from the top of one of the towers! 
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since there’s only one branch of our church in all of morocco, and it meets two hundred miles away from marrakech, we had our own little church meetings. we went through the sunday school lesson together in le jardin secret and had a little “sacrament meeting” (minus the sacrament but definitely including the hymns :) ) on the rooftop terrace back at our riad. 
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that evening, we went back to jemaa el-fnaa to eat dinner at one of the dozens of incredibly lively street food stalls. picking a place to eat is quite the feat - everyone is telling you their food is the best but it all looks exactly the same, ha! we ended up with a delicious meal and i just loved the atmosphere of it all. it was a really fun experience. 
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we spent the majority of our last day in marrakech buying things we’d decided we wanted from the markets. bargaining is always an adventure, and can be really fun for us. we tried to take in all the sensational sights and colours and smells and sounds of the markets, and also popped by the saadian tombs to take in a bit more iiiiiincredible tile and wood work. 
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and then we were off on a train to casablanca! 
marrakech, i love you forever!! such a special place … one i’m determined to go back to (especially when we have a home of our own to decorate!!!). 

Comments

  1. When you go back, bring your children with you. Of all the countries and cities I have visited, Morocco is by far the most child friendly, and child welcoming. Like you have said in past posts, it’s also a great way to connect with locals. We were welcomed so warmly everywhere we went with our toddler son. I also wonder if you noticed how involved fathers are in carrying around and caring for their children and babies? That was definitely something that struck me and shattered stereotypes I must have carried subconsciously.

    Your posts and pictures are bringing back so many wonderful memories. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest, AND seeing what carpet you bought :)

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  2. What are all the colorful things in the baskets? Are those spices or candies or maybe fruit? They are beautiful whatever they are!

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    Replies
    1. i think they are for making tea! dried flowers and herbs.

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  3. All those eggs on that motorcycle!!

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  4. So beautiful! Looking at your travel photos always makes me happy!

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