The Marrakech Part, prior to departure to the Atlas Mountains.
Spent the morning at the Majorelle Gardens, the famous French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s hang out in Marrakech. He bought the property and gardens after the death of Jacques Majorelle, a French painter who died in 1962. It was restored in the 1980’s by YSL who together with his partner lived there. After his death the property was bequeathed to the foundation of Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent. Majorelle was mesmerised by the colour blue indigenous to some of the towns in the Atlas mountains. Blue therefore became a feature in Majorelle’s life and is a predominant colour in the gardens. The deep blue contrasts sharply with the verdant green foliage and with the yellow and ochre pots. An early start meant we were able to wander around in a relaxed manner, but as the morning wore on, and the tour buses arrived, it did get very busy. Sometimes it was difficult to take pictures having to wait for people to get out of the way (especially some of our near European neighbours, if you know what I mean).
Within the grounds of the gardens is the newly renovated Berber museum housed an eclectic collection of old Berber artefacts, jewellery, clothing and handicrafts in newly made glass fronted wooden exhibition cases. It was a very interesting and thought provoking display.
Overall impression is that the gardens provide a cool and relaxing diversion from the manic activity associated with the city so close by.
Left the gardens and retraced our steps to the Medina, with donkey carts, caleches, motor bikes, cars and bicycles and us jostling for the best route through the melee. Bought a couple of bananas on route from the back of a donkey cart. Very nice they were, although it occurred to my fellow traveller and I that there would be no chance that the fruit would be accepted for sale in any UK retail outlet, just to much black and funny shapes as well.
Salad lunch was taken at the Henna Cafe, which we understand is a charitable concern. Old lady at street level prepared chopped tomatoes with onion and cumin, apple and cabbage salad and some hot green lentils served with fresh bread and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Whilst we were enjoying our lunch we were molested by a tortoise (I did not know it was possible either) wandering around us and over our bags, looking for scraps from the table. When we first arrived we were of the opinion that he was an ex tortoise, but this was not the case. The poor fellow trotted around at quite a pace, but kept getting stuck under the lower rails of the stools on which we were sitting.. He seemed oblivious to the fact that the height of his house was higher than the cross pieces of the stool.
And so, it’s back to the Dar Charkia and the first chapter of our Moroccan adventure draws to a close. Onward to the mountains.
I have to acknowledge the assistance given to me today by my fellow traveller, who pointed out some of the finer detail to me, including most of the tortoise section.
PS My fellow traveller has remarked that I am no longer allowed to switch on my iPod, but she has permitted me to continue with this blog.