Marrakech
December 27, 2011 at 7:48 pm 192 comments
First, I noticed the doors.
I took a bus from Menara airport to Djemaa El-Fna, a large square in the heart of Marrakech’s old city. The bus swerved through a sea of motorized bikes, past flat stretches of fanned palms and arches marking unlit alleys. On the sidewalk I counted more feral cats than I’ve ever seen, and on the rooftops I caught glimpses of oversized nests and tall, toothpick-legged cranes.
We zigzagged between buildings the colors of rust, orange-pink and off white, with unpainted brick exposed on the sides. Elaborate grates decorated the arched windows. The Arabic tile was all geometric shapes and primary colors: chaos and balance. But the doors.
The doors were painted turquoise, seafoam green, red. Some were patterned with raised studs, others with thin scrolls or contrasting diamonds. As the bus sped towards the center square, the doors become vivid blurs against the burnt orange skyline.
(Click thumbnails for full-sized photos!)
Night fell by the time my friends and I arrived at our riad, which was tucked in the maze of side streets of a residential neighborhood. We turned a few corners, walked through a children’s game of football, and found the right alleyway. I saw a door marked 18, just like our directions said, so I pushed it open and the six of us walked inside, backpacks and all.
Inside I saw richly threaded pillows, candles flickering through the cut-outs of metal tins, and… a family of four eating dinner? The woman herded us out of her living room, back into the alley, and pointed further down. Wrong door marked 18. I’d been in Morocco for an hour, and I’d managed to walk into a stranger’s home.
We found the right door, knocked first, and settled into our riad.
We sat in the lounge and planned out our trip over a pot of mint tea – a super sweet drink consumed in tiny, steaming cups. The riad offered a two day excursion into the Sahara desert. We argued amongst ourselves before realizing we couldn’t travel this close to the Sahara without going in. As we came to the decision, I felt a raindrop, and looked up through the open roof as the sky began pouring.
I woke up early for the excursion. I showered on the rooftop terrace, under the starlit sky, and listened to the roosters crow just as my hot water ran out.
We loaded into a van – our home for the next two days. We drove out of the city, around crumbling red mountains and over rocky cliffs, past cacti dripping with ruby fruit. We stopped at villages along the way, where I haggled for silver bracelets and drank an Arabic coke.
By sundown we’d reached the edge of the desert, where we mounted our camels and rode into the Sahara. Here’s what I’ve learned about camels: I don’t like them. Mine was too tall, too fat, a little bow-legged, and very fond of spitting. I also managed to get the camel with the sassiest hips, and when I dismounted two hours later, I felt every ounce of that sass in my aching legs. Can a camel look smug? I think so.
But we set up our tents and ate vegetable tagines for dinner. We danced around the campfire and sang to each other. The sand, cool as the night air and finer than sugar, slipped through my fingers like silk. I stayed outside as long as I could, listening to the camels gossip, looking up at the clearest stars I’ve ever seen, until I woke up to a glorious sunrise edging over the dunes.
(For the record, the camel ride back in the morning is worse.)
We drove back through the snow capped Atlas Mountains, and seven hours later, returned to Marrakech. That night I explored Djemaa El-Fna, a square full of snake charmers, henna artists, and monkeys with chains around their necks. The night market offers heaped spices, fresh orange juice, and bin after bin of roasted nuts. I devoured dried apricots, figs, and dates by the handful.
In the morning, Marrakech experienced a torrential downpour. My friends and I picked that morning to visit the Majorelle Gardens, and by the time we walked there, my socks squelched. But thanks to the rain, we were the only visitors to the garden, and the sight of thick palms, lilies in still ponds, and a forest of bamboo moved the rain to the back of my mind.
With two hours left in the country, I fell in love with the Souks, Marrakech’s mazelike market. The stalls sell everything from slippers and earrings to glazed pottery and gunpowder tea. The market only has a few entrances, and the knot of alleys and streets of stalls were impossible to navigate. For about twenty minutes, thoroughly lost in the heart of the Souks, I thought, “There’s no way I’m making my flight back.”
Now I’m back in Seattle, my semester abroad finished. I’ve seen my old friends and had family dinner, and I’m happy to be home. But a little part of me misses standing ankle deep in sand, scowling at my camel. The weight of lifting the lid of a tagine pot. I probably won’t stop missing the crumbling archways, the brilliant fabrics, the thrill of feeling completely foreign – until my next trip to Marrakech.
Entry filed under: Travel. Tags: Africa, Marrakech, Morocco, study abroad, travel.
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1.
Ruthiey | December 27, 2011 at 7:56 pm
As always, beautiful. I love your writing – it almost makes me feel like I’m there. <3
2.
theamberlight | January 17, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Ruthiey! You are so right! I am subscribing right now! What a gift for capturing the energy and essence of what you are doing! Great job!!! Congrats on FP, well chosen! :0)
Looking forward to exploring more and making one of those doors my wallpaper! I LOVE doors!!!
3.
Candice | December 27, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Not only was your description lovely, but the photos as well. Thank you for sharing.
4.
Courtney Mara | December 27, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Beautiful. I need to go! I am going to have a guest blogger soon do a post about Morocco. It seems like a magical place.
5.
alissa | December 28, 2011 at 12:21 am
This is beautiful. Thank you!
6.
Nisrine M. | December 28, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I’m from Morocco yet have never made it to the Sahara.Such a cool post with pretty pictures. Lucky you!
7.
wanderingeducators | December 28, 2011 at 9:33 pm
what a wonderful trip – and thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! this last bit – what an extremely special place – you made it come alive for us!
8.
Erika | December 29, 2011 at 3:10 am
So beautiful. How lucky are you? love the pictures. You walked into the wrong riad. lol uh ohhhh embarrassing moment I bet. Thanks for sharing it. Us readers need more. Happy 2012
9.
Nicola @ unhip squirrel | December 29, 2011 at 10:16 am
I love the stories you share here, and I’m blown away by your photographs :)
10.
Hannah | December 29, 2011 at 11:58 am
I bet a little part of you did actually miss that smug camel too (:
11.
Elissa | December 29, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Hannah – Every hairy, bony, sassy bit of her. :)
12.
Ayshela | December 29, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Welcome home! I’ve missed your posting, but I’m so glad you’ve had the opportunities available only through *living* abroad for a while. =)
13.
Samantha | December 29, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Ayyyy How I have missed your posts! Keep baking and keep writing! I love living vicariously through you (As a fellow 19-year-old in college)
14.
janet @ the taste space | December 29, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Your post captures exactly what my trip was like last year! I had a hard time taking photos, as locals would put up their arms, or ask for money, so I took solace in the crazy beautiful doors. :)
15.
Becca @ Cook, Rejoice, Repeat | December 29, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Soo jealous of your trip! Marrakech is on my travel list for sure. Welcome back to the Northwest, and good luck with your next semester!
16.
kyleen | December 29, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Your semester abroad sounded so amazing! Beautiful post. I can’t wait to go to university (:
17.
ana122391ana | December 30, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Hey Elissa, what riad did you stay in and how did you find it? I really want to visit Marrakech soon! Love the pictures and your writing!
18.
Elissa | December 30, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Ana – All semester I used http://www.hostelworld.com/ to find hostels. Here’s the particular riad I stayed with in Marrakech: http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Hostel-Riad-Mama-Marrakech/Marrakech/53435
Hope it helps!
19.
Kristina | December 30, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Morocco is magic. I was there during a summer abroad in law school and – nearly 10 years later – I can still smell the chicken cooking in the open squares. Such an amazing place, its wonderful you had a chance to experience it.
20.
Molly | December 31, 2011 at 12:45 am
Such good writing. An absolute pleasure to read.
21.
YAR | January 1, 2012 at 1:26 am
What an amazing Trip. Seems like you have enjoyed it a lot. Egypt is also amazing and beautiful.
22.
operationescapade | January 2, 2012 at 4:17 am
i love your blog and am always blown away by your amazing photography skills! i would love to know more about your experiences in college :) Blessed New Year!
23.
terrie | January 3, 2012 at 1:44 pm
You’re blog is great! I love love love all the pictures you take, they’re beautiful! I enjoy reading your blog.
24.
myrecess | January 3, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Hi, I’m 17 and I’m pretty new to this blogging thing, and I stumbled upon yours. Your blog is amazing! I love your photography! It was so hard to find a blogger my age, and I want to keep following you ;)
myrecess.wordpress.com
25.
betty | January 3, 2012 at 11:47 pm
lovely photos!
26.
Kathryn | January 6, 2012 at 2:47 pm
A place I’ve always wanted to go do but never quite made it. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I’d love to photograph those doorways, the souks and maybe even the smug camels (and yes you’ve caught his expression perfectly!). :-)
27.
RY | January 9, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I’ve been there. Marrakech is an absolutely amazing place, full of contradictions (new vs old) and exotic things to see. I thoroughly enjoyed your description and photos! Keep ‘em coming! :)
28.
Cousin Sharon | January 9, 2012 at 8:58 pm
You never cease to amaze me!
29.
adie2356 | January 13, 2012 at 8:25 am
How beautiful are arabic countries there are always something magical in those destinations. May be it is not only the culture and traditions but the place itself.
Greets list your flat for Olympics
30.
Collard Green Muslim | January 14, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Magical photos! Loved it.
31.
thewienertakesitall | January 14, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Really enjoyed reading this-I’ve been thinking about going to Marrakech for a while, and you’ve convinced me-thanks :)
32.
Little Explorer | January 14, 2012 at 3:03 pm
I love your writing style: very colourful and personal. I have a very similar set of pictures of doors from my travelling in Denmark (although the doors there look very different to Moroccan ones!).
Congratulations on getting Freshly Pressed. Hope to see you on my blog soon! http://littleexplorer.wordpress.com
33.
antarabesque | January 14, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Awesome. I love the pictures of the doors and the passageways
34.
katemadison365 | January 14, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Stunning! It’s been my opinion that all camels are smug, though most don’t show it quite as well as yours. You being from Seattle should be accustomed to the rain and good on you for taking advantage of the soggy situation. Great post.
35.
DoF@theinfill | January 14, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Lovely photos beautifully set out. I really enjoyed reading this – thanks for sharing
36.
dustybuster | January 14, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Photos were gorgeous, the story was well written. I find myself missing Marrakech now….
37.
The Hook | January 14, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Incredible shots! Awesome post!
38.
cissyblue | January 14, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I just discovered your blog, (I seldom say this, really) but I really love to read your work. You have an excellent style of writing, (although your subject I adore, and makes me quite prejudiced), I am usually swayed by the pics, and yours are quite marvelous. But it is your words that are just lovely, thank you, and I am glad I discovered your blog… :)
39.
Katie | January 14, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Love the doors and the bright colors! Makes you smile just to see them.
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
40.
Mikalee Byerman | January 14, 2012 at 4:36 pm
I LOVE doors … the symbol (an opening, entrance to a new path, etc.) and the physical architecture as well.
Stunning pictures!
:)
41.
Little London Observationist | January 14, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Gorgeous entry. Moroccan food is my all time favourite, especially tanginess. Yum! Loving the door photos. Such a colourful place. I can’t wait to get there myself. It’s on my endless list! Also, that close-up camel shot rocks. x
42.
ghostswrit | January 14, 2012 at 5:08 pm
I love all the doors!
43.
Aleks Dinic | January 14, 2012 at 5:27 pm
like like like
44.
erin | January 14, 2012 at 5:28 pm
I loved the chaos of the streets in Morocco. I’d love to go back to ride a spitting, sassy hipped camel in the Sahara.
45.
baahnvoyage | January 14, 2012 at 5:33 pm
This post makes me miss Marrakech. Thanks for doing it justice!
46.
seabeegirl | January 14, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Beautiful story and photos. I really envy you the experience! I do believe that I’ll have to visit Morocco now.
47.
twistedsistersdesign | January 14, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Great photos :)
48.
Gluten Free Girl In DC | January 14, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Morocco is a wonderful country, it holds a dear place in my heart. You should return and travel to Fez and Essaouira, Essaouira is my favorite of all the cities I traveled to. I love your photos, definitely return another time you will fall in love with it.
49.
balimore | January 14, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Great article. I love your photographs! What sort of camera do you use?
50.
Elissa | January 14, 2012 at 9:48 pm
balimore – Thank you! I took these photos with an iPhone and the instagram app. Normally (on older food posts) I shoot with a Canon Rebel and a 50mm lens.
51.
benneseed | January 14, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Keep writing, keep baking! Very nice post.
52.
midnitechef | January 14, 2012 at 7:32 pm
I’m adding “camping in the desert with camels” to my list!
53.
Words From the Moon | January 14, 2012 at 8:33 pm
You are a wonderful writer – beautifully descriptive words that really painted a picture in my mind, along with the stunning photos. What a great adventure! I’m sorry you did not like your camel – one of my greatest desires is to ride a camel – I find them lovely!
54.
The Simple Life of a Country Man's Wife | January 14, 2012 at 8:42 pm
those doors are lovely, i can see why you noticed them right away. great photos and post.
55.
Vetti | January 14, 2012 at 8:45 pm
evocative and achingly beautiful post. thank you!
56.
Thunderkat | January 14, 2012 at 9:25 pm
I took a lot of photos of doors!
57.
Adventures with Alex | January 14, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Hey! Fantastic read. This actually popped up in Freshly Pressed but I was looking through your site and you go to Emerson right? So do I! And I actually had a chance to do the desert trek in Marrakech when I studied abroad, so glad a fellow Emersonian got to enjoy it!
58.
starlight | January 14, 2012 at 10:44 pm
love your photos.. my favorites are pictures of the doors.. they are so colorful with different designs. congrats on being FP.
59.
LadyT | January 14, 2012 at 10:52 pm
sounds like an amazing experience! thank you for sharing the gorgeous pics! i love the doors too! congrats on being freshly pressed
60.
Betty | January 14, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Very descriptive writing, loved reading it. Photos are beautiful too. Good luck -from a fellow baker.
61.
Karen | January 14, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Your pictures are awesome! Thanks for sharing.
62.
plaidoak | January 14, 2012 at 11:55 pm
Beautiful photos.
63.
wonderfullyawoman | January 15, 2012 at 12:17 am
I’m in love with your blog! I feel like you’d like my new blog: http://wonderfullyawoman.wordpress.com/ and your followers would to! Check it out. From your blog it seems like you’d have lots of stories to tell!
64.
abichica | January 15, 2012 at 12:45 am
Beautiful pictures!! its a really beautiful place, filled with so much color and life.. really amazing!! :-D
65.
woody | January 15, 2012 at 1:02 am
I was in Marrakech 2 years ago with my wife, while in the souk I tried on a pair of sandals by a kindly street vendor they were selling for about 20 euros The buckle ripped off because the leather was too dry and old. The nice man asked if I would like to try another pair on and , I, mindful of being a guest in this wonderful place said”my friend these are not for me and I thank you” The next word out of this nice mans lips were” you fucking Jew you ruined my shoes you fucking dirty jew”
I felt a bit uneasy as hordes of men with robes came out of nowhere and I felt a riot was soon to ensue. A great young and strong Marine type of American grabbed me and my wife and we walked quickly from shop to shop followed by men with cell phones calling. We beat it out of there and I vowed not to return, the cruise ship I was on Celebrity x stopped calling on Morocco. Now that the war is over maybe it will cool down, but the Jewish thing when will that cool down when Isreal is pushed into the sea? hmmmm, I like Thailand, nice people..
66.
lorraine | January 15, 2012 at 3:23 pm
me too.
i went with my friend, both female in our 40s and iv never been so terrified in all my life. the souks are a maze and some small child is always wanting to take you back to your riad (for a price) even though they didnt know where it was.
the riad owners were wonderfull and the escorted trip up the atlas mountains was amazing. my friend and i paid for a guide to take us through the souks(as we would never have found our way out) the guide took us to all these shops that basically made us buy things at ridiculous prices we were conned rotten. we eventually had to body swerve the guide. every picture we took of anything, someone came up and demanded money from us.
it was an experience il never forget. but still glad i experienced it.
67.
Yatin | January 15, 2012 at 1:11 am
Hah, very funny description of your camel experience. Camel rides are tricky, you feel like one after riding even for couple of hours.
68.
Azhar Shahani | January 15, 2012 at 3:03 am
Excellent post…
69.
ramonadepares | January 15, 2012 at 3:53 am
Lovely memories of my time there
70.
Scott | January 15, 2012 at 4:06 am
Very descriptive writing – it takes you right there.
Your story reminds me of the lyrics to Lorreena McKennitt’s
“Marrakech Night Market” and her own vivid description of the place in the liner notes of her album “The Mask and the Mirror.”
Thanks!
71.
hotfishballs | January 15, 2012 at 6:01 am
Nice entry on the Marrakech doors! I did an entry on Morocco, too! That’s why when I saw yours, I was so interested. Nice pictures!
72.
animalizard | January 15, 2012 at 8:27 am
You have the most beautiful way of putting things! And the photographs were so colourful I almost wanted to reach out and touch them!
73.
thecoastallivingmom | January 15, 2012 at 10:18 am
Those doors are amazing!
74.
Sacha Calagopi | January 15, 2012 at 10:47 am
Your photos were amazing! My favorite one depicted the blue door. Thank you for sharing your adventures!
75.
travelphotocorner | January 15, 2012 at 11:44 am
Beautiful photos. Looks like you really had great time. I hope that at the end of this year manage to join the jeep tour and see it finally.
76.
thethreesixtyfiveproject | January 15, 2012 at 11:52 am
I love the door photos! Such beautiful pictures, I hope you had a wonderful time out there!
Cheers!
77.
Secondhand Surfer | January 15, 2012 at 11:57 am
Inspirational! I like it.
78.
rastelly | January 15, 2012 at 12:14 pm
The doors remind me of
some parts of San Auntonio,
Ever hear of the River Walk? It
leads to a mueseum built into the
ruins of an old mission – it’s strange
to see ancient buildings harboring
modern familiys and machinery.
As if we are walking in the very
footsteps of our Ancestors.
79.
Courtney | January 15, 2012 at 12:26 pm
I stumbled upon your blog because this post popped up when I logged into wordpress. I’m studying abroad right now in France and I’m going to travel to Morocco (which is why I clicked on this post). I kinda stalked your blog and read all about your adventures abroad. It made me smile and laugh and I loved every minute of it! I hope that’s not weird, but from a fellow student studying abroad…it was wonderful. Your writing is absolutely incredible; I totally felt like I was there during every blog post. And that’s all I really wanted to say. I hope your next semester back hope is wonderful! :)
80.
lindseyjonesmakeup | January 15, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Absolutely love it! I went to Marrakech and I wish I would have stayed in a Riad, I was way too poor in college and I had to stay in a hostel. But regardless, it was an amazing experience. I loved reading about your adventure. It brought me back! Thanks for sharing!
81.
Marie Midtlid | January 15, 2012 at 1:15 pm
oh my, that place has been on my “to-travel-asap” for a long time, and your blog post doesn’t exactly make it easier for me to wait for that one day in the future I’m going to see everything with my own eyes. Amazing…
82.
cm | January 15, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Ahhh thanks for taking me back. Marrakech is probably one of the best places I’ve ever been. And the doors, I’m obsessed!
83.
The Black Dandelions | January 15, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Please, when you write about tourism in Morocco don’t forget that the state of Morocco is occupying Western Sahara since 1975 and violating the human rights of the Sahrawi people on a daily basis. Please visit the website for ASVDH, a Sahrawi human rights organisation for survivors of Moroccan state terrorism:
http://asvdh.net/category/english
84.
Cassie | January 15, 2012 at 2:16 pm
I love the bright colors, and the doors. Puerto Rico is like that with doors – they’re all bright and ornate.
85.
orangepajamas | January 15, 2012 at 3:24 pm
LOVED the doors ! i have now added Marrakech to my list of must go places :)
86.
Ryan Auberson-Walsh | January 15, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post.
Am dying to see Marrakech for myself! :]
This only makes it look more worth it! ;]
87.
lamboling | January 15, 2012 at 4:35 pm
absolutely love your blog!! and now i love marrakech even more:) great work! -www.lamboling.wordpress.com
88.
Lindsey | January 15, 2012 at 5:18 pm
beautiful writing about a beautiful place…great post!
89.
daeja's view | January 15, 2012 at 6:06 pm
The doors in Marrakesh totally did it for me too…..
90.
thinkactlive | January 15, 2012 at 6:41 pm
This is fantastic! Now I want to go paint my front door. Seriously.
91.
hellenjc | January 15, 2012 at 6:44 pm
I love those doors..
92.
Kate | January 15, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Love this post! I’ve been to Morocco and it is an amazing country with amazing people! I went in 2009 and was in Marrakech, Jamal Fna and also spent time in the Atlas Mountains with the Berber people. This brought back some great memories! Thank you!
93.
thenotwriter | January 15, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Sounds beautiful. Id love to go there.
94.
violetsandcardamom | January 15, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Such stunning photos! That series of doors is so beautiful!
95.
nmaha | January 16, 2012 at 1:05 am
Ah! Morocco, a dream destination. I am waiting for the day when I can visit Fez, Marrakesh, Casablanca and the rest.
We did a similar camel ride into the Sahara from Egypt.
Btw, elephants have sassier hips than camels. Just saying ;-)
96.
Stephanie | January 16, 2012 at 1:39 am
totally LOVED the colorful doors. That is what I would have taken pictures of too! Nice job!
97.
never2late2write | January 16, 2012 at 1:51 am
Beautiful pictures. I enjoyed reading about your travels in Marrakech. I used to live in Morocco. It’s an exotic and wonderful place.
Janet
98.
sheisimpeccable | January 16, 2012 at 4:04 am
lovely! What vibrant colors!
99.
brianfpennington | January 16, 2012 at 5:28 am
Excellent post, my sister is on holiday there at the moment. Lets hope she brings back some photos like yours.
100.
literarykitty | January 16, 2012 at 6:03 am
Glad to see I’m not the only fan of Moroccan doors! Marrakech really is a photographer’s paradise. Beautiful coulours.
101.
itsallmanana | January 16, 2012 at 6:07 am
How exciting! I have my own Moroccan trip planned for October and I cannot wait!
102.
Jane | January 16, 2012 at 9:30 am
A really lovely read with great photos. It’s definitely on my list of places to go now. Thanks.
103.
scrapstu1949 | January 16, 2012 at 9:35 am
Very well described and some excellent photos. I loved Marrakesh too especially the souks. If you’ve not been you should also try Fez or even Rabat. Both very old and atmospheric and a bit less touristy. Thanks for sharing this with us.
104.
mjspringett | January 16, 2012 at 9:48 am
The doors, how many would have walked right by without notice? Great sense of humor with your camel ride, you captured his spirit quite nicely, thanks for sharing MJ
105.
photoclare | January 16, 2012 at 10:07 am
Beautiful door images – always wanted to do a ‘door’ series of images myself!
106.
debibradford | January 16, 2012 at 10:46 am
Always wanted to go to Marrakech. Not only is the name enchanting, your imagery and prose support everything I’ve ever imagined about the place. So magical and mysterious, filled with color and noise and dust and golden sky. Lovely. The doors make me swoon.
107.
veghotpot | January 16, 2012 at 11:10 am
Amazing photographs! I love all the doors – I always notice little things like that when walking around. Lovely to see it captured on camera x
108.
madasaurusrex | January 16, 2012 at 11:16 am
love this! i was just there a month ago and have a few nearly identical photos. such a quirky little city. glad you had a wonderful trip!
109.
brainymuslimah | January 16, 2012 at 11:17 am
That is the country I was born in Its so exotic :)
110.
Dave Lewis | January 16, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Morocco is awesome. Just added a poem and pic from Marrakech here – http://djlewis1966.wordpress.com
Cheers :)
111.
Dounia | January 16, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Beautiful photos with very vivid descriptions. I really enjoyed reading this – thanks for sharing and congrats on being freshly pressed!
112.
Slice of Mid-Life | January 16, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Congratulations on being freshly pressed! What a wonderful description of your trip, along with beautiful photos. As a fellow Seattleite, I remember reading about you a few years ago in (I think) Pacific Northwest magazine. It’s great to see that you are still writing and baking, I hope you are enjoying Boston. Clearly you are enjoying the great wide world.
113.
4myskin | January 16, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Wonderful! I think a camel ride would be amazing…but not a full day’s worth! Sounds like you brought the rain from Seattle too. :)
114.
abhimanyuprakash | January 16, 2012 at 1:21 pm
love the doors
115.
Carlie Chew | January 16, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Wow, so gorgeous! I love your pictures of the doors and spices : )
116.
rtd14 | January 16, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Your pictures are not only beautiful, but I enjoyed reading your rich descriptions. Thank you.
117.
Christine Smith-Johnson | January 16, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for taking us there. You have a great eye for beauty and a way with words. I love it!
118.
Kelly S. | January 16, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Beautiful photos! You inspired me to post my own from my trip to Morocco as my next post!
119.
Red Toenails | January 16, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Great pics! I wanna go!
120.
Constance V. Walden | January 16, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Great doors, great colors, thanks for sharing these. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
121.
thattallasiangirl | January 16, 2012 at 6:21 pm
The doors are simply lovely.
122.
toliveinspired | January 16, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Amazing, total eye candy.. I would love to go one of these days!
123.
shawnandsuzanne | January 16, 2012 at 8:12 pm
I Love your photos! I especially love the Camels and the Blue door.
124.
never2late2write | January 16, 2012 at 8:30 pm
You’re a creative genius! I can see why you have so many followers. Your words, photos and thoughts make me crave all kinds of wonderful things.
I’d like to nominate you for the Versatile Blogger Award. If you’d like to participate, please visit http://never2late2write.com/2012/01/16/vesatile-blogger-award-nomination/. Thank you for sharing your blog. it is truly a privilege.
Sincerely,
Janet
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theincurablelibertine | January 16, 2012 at 8:52 pm
morocco sounds amazing!!! i definitely would love to go there! your blog is wonderful!
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TWB | January 16, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Ah…………..Morocco! Thanks for the lyrical prose, the stunning pictures and, most of all, for reviving my own beautiful memories of that fabulous country. If you get the chance, please check out my blog, Travel With Balls. I really think you’ll like what we’re trying to do, and it was inspired by a trip to Morocco in 2010. Peace & Blessings, Jan
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fashionbeauty4you | January 16, 2012 at 11:24 pm
I will go there someday as I love that part of the world.Drop by my blog sometimes.Cheers
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thesquareflea | January 16, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Beautiful writing and pictures! My parents are originally from Morocco and I used to visit when I was younger. Never been to Marrakesh though . . .this makes me really want to visit it.
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LELASURAMADU LOVES CATFISH | January 17, 2012 at 12:48 am
Unix culture. Maroco
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Kelly | January 17, 2012 at 12:52 am
oooh i love morocco, and the middle east in general. awesome pix! x
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wifemotherandgeekism | January 17, 2012 at 1:20 am
I loved the pictures especially of the doors. The colors were amazing! Reminded me of a trip i made to Istanbul…
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irishlottoresults | January 17, 2012 at 8:41 am
Beautiful Imagery and Writing, a truly immersive read
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nathfuller | January 17, 2012 at 9:08 am
I went to marrakech last year, your writing brought back all sorts a good memories from there. Really like the way you write.
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Emma @ Sweet Mabel | January 17, 2012 at 9:24 am
I would love to visit Marrakech, especially after looking at your colourful pictures, absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing! x
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Chaks | January 17, 2012 at 9:50 am
lovely photos and nice post.
TechSmartLife
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Frank Winters | January 17, 2012 at 11:08 am
Excellent writing and lovely images! (May I ask what camera use used?)
Cheers, Frank
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barcncpt44 | January 17, 2012 at 11:35 am
Looks like you had a great trip. Great photos as well.
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writerintherough | January 17, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I love your pictures. The colors are so vivid. I would love to visit Morroco someday.
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Java Girl | January 17, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Your a great writer as well as a photographer. You have 2 million views? Holy cow! :) Well deserved! Have a great day and thanks for sharing your blog!
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riannagalvez | January 17, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Lovely photos!:) Hope to visit this place, soon! :)
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writerwannabe2011 | January 17, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Totally jealous! Wonderful pics — love the doors!!!
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Rae | January 17, 2012 at 3:05 pm
The pictures of the doors are really amazing, especially that last one!
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La Cueva de Claudia | January 17, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Love the pictures and the way you talked the places through. I’m planning to go this year and now, I’m even more excited to learn about this fascinating culture. I’m with you about the camel experience. Thank you for sharing!
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Terribly Sorry | January 17, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Your photos are almost outshone with your words. become an author! please visit my blog too :) from terribly sorry~
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meg895 | January 17, 2012 at 6:22 pm
This is beautiful– reminds me of my own time living in Morocco and my own camel ride into the desert and, I agree, the ride back in the morning is worse! Thanks for painting such a vivid, lovely picture of a vivid, lovely place.
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salomeanulisch | January 19, 2012 at 4:01 am
I love the pictures.
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mikanqueen | January 19, 2012 at 7:20 am
We had one of those downpours when I arrived in Marrakech on Monday night (16 Jan). I’ve never known rain like it in Morocco, but the locals are always happy for a bit of water for their crops! I am a big Maroc-o-phile…. If you are interested, this is my blog: http://www.mikanqueen.wordpress.com
Happy blogging!
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Michele LMS | January 19, 2012 at 9:47 am
Beautifully written, and I love your photos! . . . Morocco is definitely on my list of places I’d like to visit – particularly after reading your post!
http://arabianmusings.wordpress.com/
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Eagle-Eyed Editor | January 19, 2012 at 11:39 am
The photographs are wonderful…so exotic and colorful. What a treat to read about this place. And I’m determined to try out some of your recipes. I’m having a hard time choosing which to try first!
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Ask Miss Know it All | January 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Too funny! Love your writing! I think we were on the same trip! ;) http://felixlikethecat.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/camel-poop-and-the-bedouin-tent-my-moroccan-camel-tale/
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Development/Skeptic | January 19, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for a great post! I’ll be studying abroad in Paris this spring, and definitely have my sights set on Morocco. What was your experience like as a female tourist (and how easy was it to communicate/haggle in English or French with the average person?) Thanks!!
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Oh God, My Wife Is German | January 19, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Great post! Thank you for sharing!
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madebywei | January 19, 2012 at 2:54 pm
i just wrote an essay for school about the doors in Morocco. It’s crazy that I stumbled upon your post here about the same topic.
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bowtiqx | January 19, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Reminds me of eat,pray and love. Brilliant writing. Thanks for sharing!
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Angelene @Languages Of Art | January 19, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Woooooooo.. So pretty:o)
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lieselbeukes | January 20, 2012 at 4:29 am
You have a wonderful way of looking at the world! Love the doors!!!!!
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Sharp | January 20, 2012 at 9:56 am
that’s lovely
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Jbot | January 20, 2012 at 10:57 am
When it comes to art, that is simply downright sexy.
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Juliet Obodo | January 20, 2012 at 3:46 pm
I love the fact that you noticed the doors! I did the same when I went to Greece.
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Matt | January 20, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Great post and great pics. Congrats on getting “pressed”!
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djronstar | January 20, 2012 at 5:05 pm
That Blue Door … what’s behind the blue door ???
lol
Desert reminds me of my time in Dubai.
Great pics and congrats on getting FP!
Cheers,
-Ron
How To Be A DJ
http://www.beadj.ca
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trialsinfood | January 20, 2012 at 6:48 pm
i heard that the cats are well fed by the butchers in the markets. great photos and what an experience!
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tanyaphoto | January 20, 2012 at 6:49 pm
You should think about making a book of your photos! I made a whole book of my Marrakech iphone photos on Blurb.com Even tiny photos came out pretty well
You can see it through my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/tanyaphoto under ‘preview my books’. The book is only 5×5, but even if you were shooting with an iphone, the photos look great.
It would be great for a lot of your food posts too! I think they even have a way you can “slurp” your blog into a book. It would be nice for your writing and your photography.
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ricardo trevisan | January 20, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Reblogged this on Ricardo Trevisan and commented:
Encontrei este post com fantásticas imagens de portas de Marrakech, estou compartilhando. Enjoy!
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respectfullywritten | January 21, 2012 at 12:49 am
geat pictures!
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fmerza | January 21, 2012 at 1:05 am
Visually stunning and eloquently written!
I loved the full blast of culture in each and every shot, each one more vivid than the next. Those doors are exquisite! I wish the social norm over in Canada were vibrant and different coloured doors. Ours are just do dull in comparison to the doors of Marrakech!
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Miss K | January 21, 2012 at 9:02 am
Wow, I love how you take your photos, very artistic and classy at the same time. :)
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maryfollowsthelamb | January 21, 2012 at 11:31 am
Thank you for sharing your experience. The photographs are very colorful with crisp images that need no descriptions. You definitely have a gift for writing and if you bake as well as you write, I wish I lived by you!
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lecocodemojo | January 21, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Such pretty doors! I need to hack me one hahaa
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@madebycris | January 21, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Amazing. beautiful photos of doors, they are so different in style… hugs!
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Flossie | January 21, 2012 at 6:11 pm
I have been to Marrakech twice now. I loved it both times, it is almost overwhelming to all the senses.
And I remember the doors. I took photos of the doors too. They are so amazing.
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fromscratchhome | January 21, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Great photos! I especially liked all the different doors. It makes me want to make my door as unique as one of those :)
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Blic | January 22, 2012 at 5:16 am
Perfect post and beautiful pictures!
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francesaaguilar | January 22, 2012 at 6:49 am
Nice photos…I’ve always wanted to visit Morocco!
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sofiaeiw | January 22, 2012 at 8:04 am
Oh my gosh… Great pictures! Is it possible to buy one of yor photos?
U can email a reply, if you want to, to fia@mynewsdesk.com
Have a great day!
Best,
Sofiaeiw
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Duoimagery | January 22, 2012 at 9:19 am
I absolutely LOVE all the doors!
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Joe Labriola | January 22, 2012 at 11:16 am
Haha, camels. The true horses of the desert. I’ve heard that they’ll spit at you if they don’t like you or get upset or mad! Maybe that’s all just in the movies though….
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filmcamera999 | January 22, 2012 at 2:54 pm
hi elissa!
just love your photos of the doors!
for some reason, i too cant resist passing by doors when im out and about…here in london, uk we have some buildings with really old woodwork, and im talking like 15th century, etc!
a little ol’ church just down the road from where i live was bulit in 1200AD….can you believe that…and its still standing!
great work….pls lets have some more doors!
PS what kinda camera do u use? im a film weirdo…!!
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Shannon | January 22, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Your photos are gorgeous!
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CD | January 22, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Lovely post. I know exactly what you mean. Just returned from our first Moroccan trip, souks, tagine, desert, camel, starry nights et all… with me forever….
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choconutmeg | January 23, 2012 at 2:53 am
Beautiful doors! Some of them remind me of doors in old houses in India, like my mother’s ancestral home in a village in South India. Have you been to India?
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T J | January 23, 2012 at 3:48 am
I love your photos, the same groups of colorful things appeal to me as well. I also loved your blog about being robbed in Italy, I admire the way you dealt with that. I look forward to reading your next blog.
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fashionbyrussian | January 23, 2012 at 5:03 am
Thanks for sharing it!
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eireplusalba | January 23, 2012 at 8:11 am
Great door pictures!
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themonicastoreblog | January 23, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Nice photos and interesting post! The colors in Marrakesh are amazing and it is certainly a unique place!
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T J | January 23, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Reblogged this on Ms Opinionated and commented:
I love these pictures – what a great eye
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botanicart | January 25, 2012 at 9:33 am
Love the images!!!! Especially all those doors!!!! Great job
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roamingtheworld | February 1, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Love your photos! They are so vibrant and capture the essence of the place. I’m living in a small coastal town in Spain and plan to visit Morocco in June! I’ve bookmarked your site!
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Stephanie Hodges | February 4, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Your photographs are incredible. And the doors are so great!!!
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gaycarboys | February 5, 2012 at 7:02 am
That looks amazing. I love travel and the more interesting the place the better
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Isabella Tassinari | February 12, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Hey, I love your blog! I am also a college student and I’m studying abroad this semester in Italy. I was wondering if you could tell me what company you used for your ride into the desert, and wether or not you would recommend it. I am thinking of going to Marrakech for a weekend.
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Elissa | February 14, 2012 at 2:11 am
Isabella – I’m not sure which company I used, but I booked it through the Mama Marrakech Riad (which was amazing and I would whole-heartedly recommend.) But lots of riads and hostels offer tours into the desert, and you’ll probably find them wherever you stay.
I’m not sure if I would recommend it. On the one hand, it wasn’t too expensive, I saw some beautiful sights, and I did get to sleep under the stars. On the other hand, it felt a little touristy and a little playing-it-safe. I think I would have liked to go off the beaten path a little more. I also wanted to spend more time in the actual city of Marrakech, which I found fascinating, and if you take a tour it eats up at least half of your weekend.
Ultimately you’ll know whether or not you want to do a trek like I did. Check out the prices, think about what you want to do in the city, and then follow your gut. Have a great trip to Morocco!