From
Marrakech, the 70-km climb to the Tiz n Tichka Pass in the High Atlas Mountains
is a clutch-grinding series of switchbacks offering fantastic views. The first
stop is a wind-blasted pass poised somewhere between the two worlds of the High
Atlas Mountains and the sub-Sahara. We head towards the Dades, Draa and Ziz
Valleys, blessed in this arid land with life-giving rivers. They are
indescribably beautiful, lined with palmeraies, ancient kasbahs (defensive
forts constructed of red baked clay) and towns that have changed little in
centuries. Historically, tribal feuding and banditry were a way of life for the
Berbers of the region, and as a result, hundreds of kasbahs were built
throughout these valleys.
Showing posts with label Things To Do. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Things To Do. Show all posts
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Monday 12 December 2011
Marrakech Brings An Ode To Sahara
A journey
to and beyond the exotic town of Marrakech leads to a love affair with the
desert sun, ancient kasbahs, rippling sands and mouthwatering food.
IT'S LATE
AFTERNOON in the centre of exotic Marrakech, with its Andalusia-inspired
arches, ochre ramparts, souk marketplaces and distinctive skyline of mosques
set against the majestic snow-capped High Atlas Mountains. I find myself
thoroughly lost in the medina, where narrow passageways seethe with human
activity. Covered bazaars are crammed with spice stalls and workshops of every
kind, with artisans at work fashioning slippers, weaving rugs, dyeing textiles
and hammering metals.
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Marrakech Wallops The Senses Part 2
GRILLED MEATS GALORE
Once a popular hole-in-the-wall, (7) Plats Haj Boujema (65 Mohamed ElBeqal; 212-524/421-862; lunch for two MAD163) retains its cheap prices and populist spirit despite the (almost) spiffy new digs in Gucliz. Beauties with kohl-rimmed eyes tend to order panini and pizza, but you should opt for the smoky carnivorous offerings. Succulent minced lamb kofte precede perfect beef brochettes, then flash-charred lamb chops and, for the adventurous, skewers of plush liver or brains. No tasting, please, without the taktuka, a zesty, garlicky tomato-and-grccn-pcppcr relish.
ULTIMATE COUSCOUS
Few restaurants in town bother with the proper raking, swelling and multiple steamings of Morocco's signature semolina grains. (8) Dar Moha (81 Rue Dar el Bacha, Medina; 212-524/386-264; MAD1J00) bills itself as nouvelle marocaine, but its charismatic celebrity chef-owner MohaFedal happily takes an ancien approach to couscous. Start with a mosaic of Moroccan salads at your candlelit poolside table on the patio of French designer Pierre Balmain's former riad. Midway through the degustation menu, a duo of couscous dishes invites you to compare earthier Berber-style barley pellets with the more familiar durum wheat, here as light and fluffy as snowflakes. And near the end of your meal don't forget, the dessert pastilla, made with apples and saffron, dcliciously contrasts cream and crunch. »
Once a popular hole-in-the-wall, (7) Plats Haj Boujema (65 Mohamed ElBeqal; 212-524/421-862; lunch for two MAD163) retains its cheap prices and populist spirit despite the (almost) spiffy new digs in Gucliz. Beauties with kohl-rimmed eyes tend to order panini and pizza, but you should opt for the smoky carnivorous offerings. Succulent minced lamb kofte precede perfect beef brochettes, then flash-charred lamb chops and, for the adventurous, skewers of plush liver or brains. No tasting, please, without the taktuka, a zesty, garlicky tomato-and-grccn-pcppcr relish.
ULTIMATE COUSCOUS
Few restaurants in town bother with the proper raking, swelling and multiple steamings of Morocco's signature semolina grains. (8) Dar Moha (81 Rue Dar el Bacha, Medina; 212-524/386-264; MAD1J00) bills itself as nouvelle marocaine, but its charismatic celebrity chef-owner MohaFedal happily takes an ancien approach to couscous. Start with a mosaic of Moroccan salads at your candlelit poolside table on the patio of French designer Pierre Balmain's former riad. Midway through the degustation menu, a duo of couscous dishes invites you to compare earthier Berber-style barley pellets with the more familiar durum wheat, here as light and fluffy as snowflakes. And near the end of your meal don't forget, the dessert pastilla, made with apples and saffron, dcliciously contrasts cream and crunch. »
Sunday 4 December 2011
Marrakech wallops the senses
FEW PLACES ON THE PLANET OFFER SUCH A DIZZYING
MOST FRAGRANT COUSCOUS, THE ULTIMATE TAGINE AND
OTHER SPICY SECRETS OF MOROCCO'S CULINARY CAPITAL.
MARRAKECH WALLOPS THE SENSES.
A riot of colors (mosaic tiles; woven textiles), sounds (the drone
of drums from the central square. Jamaa El Fna), and, of course, tastes. Whether in the souks of
the walled Medina or the hourgeois district of Gueliz, there is no hettcr place to savor the
diversity of North African cuisine—lamb, couscous, eggplant all redolent of cumin, saffron and
the crimson pepper sauce harissa—than this ancient crossroads.
Tuesday 18 October 2011
Ten must see marrakech jardins
French artist Jacques
Majorelle (1886–1962)
came to Marrakech in
1919 to recuperate from
his heart problems and
immediately saw the
painterly potential of
southern Morocco.
Louis Majorelle
Louis Majorelle was the
painter’s equally famous
father. A French decorator
and furniture designer, he
was one of the leading
exponents of the Art
Nouveau style. His work
is displayed in celebrated
museums, such as the
Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
Sunday 9 October 2011
10 Marrakech Souvenis you can´t miss
Babouches are Moroccan
slippers, handmade from local
leather, although increasingly
the babouches found in the
souks are made of a synthetic
plastic that only looks like
leather. In their most basic form
they are pointy-toed and come
in a variety of colours – canary
yellow being the most
common – but are otherwise
plain. However, lots of
boutiques and shops
customize their babouches
with silk trim, or
even carving the leather
with exquisite designs.
Argan oil
Argan oil is an almost
mystical substance to
which all kinds of
properties are attributed . Part of its
mystique can be credited to the
rarity of argan trees, which only
grow in southwestern Morocco.
The oil is sold all over the souks
but much of it is low grade. For
quality oil, it’s best to buy from a
reputable dealer.
Friday 7 October 2011
JEMAA EL FNA for food Connaisseurs
As day gives way to night, this famous square is decked out in inviting, make-shift tables, where you can sample grilled meats and traditional dishes.
"I couldn't believe the flawless organisation of the night
restaurants in this fantastic square! Long tables are laid out in a
flash, while the coals glow red and kebabs flash before your eyes
accompanied by bread and tomato sauce. The sellers appeal to passers-by,
inviting them to sit at their tables. Under the lights and the fumes,
young and old find themselves sitting at the same benches partaking of
timeless, unchanging dishes
that include couscous with seven vegetables,
Tuesday 4 October 2011
The Fantasia of Morocco
We arrived in Tissa in the early morning. Festivities and
competition was not due to start until around 9.30 am, so we spent time
chatting with locals and checking out the magnificent horses as they
were prepared for the big event - The Fantasia.
In the hours before the competition began, the contestants and their
mounts were extremely busy. Every last detail of equipment was checked,
saddles made ready and the rifles, that play such a dramatic part in
the event, were loaded and discharged.
Friday 30 September 2011
Marrakech Museum of Art
In the calendar of its temporary exhibitions, the Museum of Art de Vivre in Marrakech opens its new cultural season with an exhibition devoted to the art of the garden in Morocco. Being a great lover of gardens, cacti in the first place, with great pleasure I write on this topic, more and more present in Morocco. The man, from his sedentary worked and modified landscapes. And it has created others. On the thread of time, farming techniques and diversification of cultures and the creation of new plant varieties with biotechnology and breeding techniques have changed and enriched prondamente flora around the world.
Monday 26 September 2011
Marrakech international Art exhibition 2011
Marrakech Art Fair 2011
The second edition of International Exhibition of Modern and Contemporary Art Fair Marrakech will be held from September 30 to October 3, 2011 at the Palace Es Saadi, with the participation of 45 international galleries to exhibit their most important artists. A dozen new entries since the first edition, proof that this show is reaching an important and recognized quality. In addition to representation, very important, the contemporary scene in Turkey, with six galleries (CDA Projects, IP Artworks, Empire Project, CAM Gallery, Art Gallery and Merkur PG), the halls of the fair will host two of the main actors of the New York scene: Metro Pictures and Edwynn Houk Gallery.
Friday 23 September 2011
Marrakech Hammam Rituals
The Marrakech hammam ritual: pure moments of pleasure.
Hammam treatments, which have been used for centuries, are an opportunity for a delightful moment of peace and calm to awaken your senses.
Did you know that one hammam session lasts at least two hours? To start with, you move through a series of increasingly hotter rooms, perfumed with Eucalyptus oil. Then, a hammam specialist
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Marrakech Beldi Country Club
The Beldi Country Club is a green haven of relaxation 10 minutes away from the city.
"This peaceful garden
is the ideal place for those who love plant life, like me. Just imagine
fields filled with roses and hundred-year-old olive trees under the
benevolent gaze of the Atlas mountains. VEHBQBF2QDS5
Sunday 18 September 2011
Dar Cherifa literary café
Brought back to life by top craftsmen, the oldest house in the Medina has become a unique type of cultural centre.
"This is a beautiful, welcoming house, a wonderful place
that breathes culture. Thanks to its considerate hosts, the original
concept of literary café means that you can experience art in its true
form. Painting exhibitions,
sculptures and evening concerts: I was able to cross paths with poets,
calligraphers, potters and even colourists eager to share their art,
usually around a glass of mint tea or a tasty meal.
Tuesday 13 September 2011
Lost Tourist Discovers Asilah
Once a blight on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Asilah has blossomed into something beautiful thanks to the ideas of two friends and the commitment of an entire community. Sarah Gilbert tells us its story. The man lifted the pointed hood of his djellabah against the breeze, reached for his brush and began to paint a dramatic swirl of colour onto the whitewashed medina wall. People stopped to watch him work, even offering to hold his ladder. Far from a Moroccan Banksy, he was just one of the many artists that flock to the white-cubed town of Asilah for its annual festival, the International Cultural Moussem.
Friday 9 September 2011
Marrakech is more than the medina
Beach clubs, trekking or hill retreats. If you thought it was a city just for weekend breaks, it’s time to think again!
Picture the scene: an old house, a riad, full of beckoning arches and
curvaceous carvings, with a cool pool and a picture-book palm in the courtyard.
Orange juice and pancakes on the roof for breakfast, couscous and salads under
the stars at night. And all this in the middle of the medina, the old town of
Marrakech, where the call to prayer rings out every morning and the sun shines
all year round.
It’s no wonder we love Marrakech, and no wonder that more than 400 riads
offer rooms in the medina. Up to now, however, this has been very much a
weekender’s city, overflowing with atmosphere, but a little short on
diversions. Once you’ve seen the Saadian tombs and the Bahia Palace, excavated the
souks and wriggled among the snake-charmers on the Djemaa el Fna, you’re done.
What next?
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Dinner For Two In Marrakech
Morocco is
famous for its food, and no wonder. It's mouthwatering and eclectic, and
there's something for everyone. The best-known dish is the tagine, a
filling stew slow cooked in an earthenware pot with a conical lid. In addition
to chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or vegetables, tagines often include
stewed fruit, olives, onions, or almonds. Many restaurants also serve couscous,
particularly as a traditional family lunch on Fridays. The seven-veggie
couscous royale, topped with a raisin/onion concoction, is not to be missed.
Saturday 3 September 2011
Discover Marrakch in 36 Hours
IN 1939, George Orwell wrote of Westerners flocking to Marrakech in search of “camels, castles, palm-trees, Foreign Legionnaires, brass trays and bandits.” Ever since, the city has been ravishing visitors with its teeming souks, ornate palaces and sybaritic night life. In recent years, a succession of high-end openings and restorations — most notably, the lavish reopening of the hotel La Mamounia — has transformed the city into an obligatory stop for jet-setters. Yet despite Marrakesh’s new cachet, the true treasures of the enigmatic city still hide down dusty side streets and behind sagging storefronts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)