Smitten. Just hours on the ground and we are all in love with Marrakech. :) Exotic, beguiling, enchanting, fragrant and delicious. This is the reason travel can be so invigorating… Just a quick teaser, a tickle really, to let family, friends and readers know we have gotten here safely and that I would be crazy to spend any time writing further blog posts while in this fascinating place…
Millions of blooming roses line the avenues and streets, parks and gardens in a seemingly stark contrast to what appears to be an incredibly dry and arid location. The aroma of the roses are simply intoxicating, and they are at every turn, in fountains, hotel rooms, baths, etc.
A little dish of olives with chermoula, to wake the palate…
…at a wonderful dinner on the terrace, with delicious salads and tagines and an amazing view in front of us and musicians playing soothing music. Yes, we are in heaven on earth for the next few days. :)
48 Responses
First?
Hope someone in your family has ‘Marrakesh Express’ by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on the i-pod?! It’s a lovely song….
Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes,
Traveling the train through clear Moroccan skies
Ducks and pigs and chickens call,
animal carpet wall to wall
American ladies five-foot tall in blue.
Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mind,
Had to get away to see what we could find.
Hope the days that lie ahead
bring us back to where they’ve led
listen not to what’s been said to you
(lyrics by Graham Nash)
Sorry – just realised that you may not be able to re-produce lyrics without permission. Feel free to delete if necessary!
finally you’ve made it in Marrakech Mr. MM!
Ah!! I am so incredibly jealous!!! Morocco is one of those countries on my short list. I am soooo envious! Can’t wait to hear about the tangines!!!
Looking at the last photo, I can’t help but remember Samantha groping her dinner date in what was supposed to be a restaurant in Abu Dhabi<:)
have a great vacation mm & family! looking forward to your morocco posts. :)
woow! like, like, like!
Mr. MM please adopt me…. I can fly now to join you if you will say yes….
Hi MM! Understand that philipine passport holder are visa upon arrival at morrocco. Could you pls confirm correctness. We are currently in kuwait anf might travel to marrakech by november. Have a nice day.
MM, daan ka d2..hehhehe
pabili ng Tajine.
Marakkech! My no. 1 on list of places to go for food. The UN Heritage site of the nightly food market square is on my bucket list. Have lotsa fun!
Love the photos! Please take more.
One of my favorite cities in the world. Have a great time! Djemaa el Fna is a must, but watch your belongings…
More pls
Visit Essaouira and Fez if you can. I found Marrakech nice but so much commercialized which is not a problem in itself except now prices rival those of Europe when the economy is just a bit ahead of the Philippines. Or maybe because we overpaid by too much the riyadh and the so-so barbecue in the plaza. Plus I had the feeling they were trying to keep the people by slowing down come payment time so it would look like the place was sought-after by foreign-looking persons.
All in all I would say Essaouira and Fez are my best memories of Morocco so far. However the best ever dessert we found in the streets (an ambulant vendor) of Marrakech, freshly fried triangles with fresh almond paste freshly squirted with fresh flower extract. The sit-down boutiques are just somehow less good, unfortunately, drier texture, less aromas.
In Fez, have drinks in Sofitel overlooking the whole of the city at sunset. Finally there is one hidden restaurant in Essaouira which has really really good tajines, of rich herbs and a balance of flavors, not too sweet, not too gooey, veggies cut in bite-sized pieces but not overcooked, while the meat is plump, juicy and tender. The semoule does not taste nor smell like cardboard, but faintly of olive oil. The grains have a rice texture and not pasty when you chew. I will try to dig it up.
MM more eye candy please…definitely luv the photos!! Am so excited for your upcoming posts on this trip. Enjoy the vacation!!
mina, no visas required for Philippine passport holders.
Wow! all i can say is wow…Hope you enjoy your holiday.looking forward to seeing your posts about this place..
MM, that last pic, is that the same as in SATC2 where Carrie kisses her ex?
lovely!
lovely! im excited with the rest of the story!
Enjoy La Mamounia!
sunflowii, :) Sharp eyes. Ley, you nailed it. :)
I love Morocco! Have fun!
beautiful … just simply beautiful … :) ♥
Beautiful photos!. Definitely on my bucket list of places to go….
Too much excitement to look forward…..those glimpses captured in photos…. stunning …tulala kaya, ang ganda and there’s more? Waiting for the next post pls.
Enjoy MM, Mrs MM !!! Hope the teen will have sis/bro soon ;)
MM…totally agree with Felina!…kay ganda pala ng kabila ng mundo!
Oh, MM you are definitely catching up to this guy who has visited 142 cities? in his lifetime. I forgot his name. He only has 2 more cities or countries? left. I think it is Libya and Cuba. It could be Footloose!
Oh, CWID: I think the consistency of the pudding and the medium used for the coffee art HAS to be the same consistency. If the pudding is thinner than the cream or creme anglaise for instance, the coffee art medium will SINK and your art work will sink and merge with the pudding. Therefore, let it sit until it reaches the same viscosity as your coffee art cream and work quickly and swirl away! But just swirl the top layer maybe 1 mm. thick with a skewer. Hope that helps!
HAPPY SWIRLING!
are you staying at peacock pavilions?? if not, do check out that b&b while you’re there. i’ve heard great things about the place :) looking forward to more photos
this destination sits on top my bucket list!
i heard this is Melaka a hundred folds! sensory experience at its finest!
and for Philippine passport holder, no visa necessary. awesome!
Really? It does not require any visa? Wow! I would love to go there!
I would love to be in your shoes, MM. Just visited the Shanghai Expo and I was smitten with Morocco’s Pavilion. The beauty and richness of its culture were excellently portrayed in their architectural and interior details, and thru dramatic displays of silverwares, weapons, ancient scripts, fabrics and spices… Most of the tourists–the mainland Chinese–seemed to appreciate the pavilions with all the techno stuff more, but I really loved Morocco’s. Have a fantastic stay there.
WOW!!! Are you visiting the night food stalls at Djemaa el Fna and the dyeing factory at Fez?! I’m soooo looking forward to more photos!! =) Morocco is a dream destination, sana makapunta rin ako dyan! =) hehehe!
awww…. simply beautiful! :)
MM, If you are still in morocco,,you can visit my farmhouse if you wanted and i shall inform my caretakers to allow you entry,,,you can stay in my house free of anything from food, housing and even guides if you wish to,,,My house is located near Soukh o Larba road going to wazan city( place between Tangier and Rabat). Its easy to find my house in this vicinity as im the only known filipino married a morrocan lady …My home there is just near the salt mine and even just beside a cemetery…ill give you a number if you wanted but i hope you speak french at least…
wow! waiting for the pictures :)
when i grow up i wanna be like you.
Can’t wait for more post on Marocco. Enjoy! Send MM my best!
Oh, even better, you’re in Amanjena! Enjoy!
How exciting! Can’t wait to hear the rest of your stay. Have fun!!!
awesome! can’t wait for your posts and reviews. my husband and i are planning a trip to marrakech in three weeks and would love to hear about your great food finds!
Gener, thank you for the offer, that is exceedingly generous of you. Unfortunately, this trip is only planned around Marrakech, and we will not be traveling to other cities, as much as we would like to see them eventually… So, thanks again.
morocco…on my bucket list together with prague and russia…envy you………
MM is it possible to buy Smen and bring it back to manila?
SD, I suspect it is possible, if you are flying directly back to Manila and you can bottle or can it and check it in as baggage. We are returning through another transit point where I am sure that it wouldn’t pass the customs inspection… :)
To me the Philippines was Heaven on Earth and I can not wait to visit again! Strange how everything is relative to the observer.