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August 14, 2011
Morocco.
Unbelievable.
I’m in love already.
1pm. Landed in the heat of the day – 45 degrees. I’ve never experienced heat like that.
Called the riad for a pick up and was hand delivered to RiadO2. I was greeted by two smiling and eager to please women who invited me to sit and then brought me a cold glass of orange juice. Much needed. The riad and the room are exactly as the pictures portray them. Clean, spacious, and thoughtfully decorated. A gem.
After I was shown my room and left to my own devices. I explored the terrace, unpacked, and did some writing and some research about Marrakech. At around 3pm I went down to the courtyard to ask if it was possible to eat something as I hadn’t eaten anything but an apple and a bag of potato chips all day.
Delicious. Fresh bread, sweet carrots, zucchini and a tangy salsa with scallions.
As I was eating a Scottish women came down to dip her feet in the splash pool. Soon, her partner followed. We got to talking and they soon moved to my table to enjoy a late lunch themselves. Hillary and Lyndon from Shetland. For three hours we talked with each other and with another Italian couple who will be leaving tomorrow. H&L invited me to walk to Jemaa-el-Fna square with them and I gladly accepted.
From 7:30 until midnight we walked through Marrakech; through the souks and market and to Jemaa-el-Fna where we perched on a terrace to observe our new world.
Although home was only 20 minutes walk away it took us about an hour to weave north through the labyrinth to Riad O2.
Such an incredible evening. I love Marrakech already. This is what I’d been waiting for.