Tapas to Tajine

As we are nearing the end of our journey we decided to have a slower day and spend the first part pool side. Also since it is Friday many businesses close on the the holy day of the week here. Our hotel actually has two pools, one located on site which is new and one at what they refer to as “The Club”  a private garden in another part of Marrakech where they built the original pool for guests. As usual one finds that behind the many walls in this city there something unexpected. A morning of swimming in a pleasant garden setting is what Sydney needed to relax a bit at this point. She has been a real trouper the whole trip and deserves a long swim, something she loves to do.

Before I forget there was to things I have seen and meant to post earlier. The first was storks. Morocco has a good sized stork population, something I did not expect. To see flocks of these big birds circling overhead or the nests on top of the city walls with a parent keeping a watchful eye was quite interesting and unexpected. The second was the presences of shopping bags all over the place. The standard shopping bag here is black and as we moved around these bags seemed to be everywhere after having escaped from their owners. top of trees, on power lines, across fields fluttering in unison in the wind. Kind of beautiful and disturbing at the same time.

At 4:00pm Jamal came by for our last tour. We visited Menara Gardens, a reservoir turned garden which we all had to agree was just ok. Then we visited Majorelle Gardens, a spectacular setting owned by Yves Saint Laurent populated with cactuses, palm trees, bamboo, etc. Quite spectacular. After the gardens Sydney finally got what she had been waiting for the entire trip, a ride on a camel. Jamal took us to an empty part of the city that resembled the Sahara (his words) where there are many groups giving camel rides. We rode ‘Madonna’ and Shakira, obviously these guys love their singers… A great ride thru palm trees and by some spectacular homes owned by the very rich. Quite a contrast. The camel guide volunteered to take photos using my camera. He did a good job however I keep the camera in multi-shot mode and he had a tendency to hold down the button. Click click click click click click click… I was counting the shutter clicks as we went. At least I will have a few photos to choose from.

We took one more run thru Djemaa el Fna just as the sun set and the place really takes off before heading over to Jamal’s house for dinner. Easily the best of the trip, his wife can cook. Jamal has three girls  all of who get along with Syd and the four of them played games and watched dvds while their parents talked. Then back to the hotel and time to part with Jamal. A kind man who made made sure we were taken care of. Since the internet is everywhere we are going to try to keep in touch. The only thing that kept us jumping today was it was at least 45 degrees C and, odd as it may sound, I still liked it. However I will have to admit I did feel a bit baked at the end of the day.

The Club

Majorelle Gardens

Look who is driving

Sydney and Jamal