Marrakech has to be one of the most wonderful, extraordinary places I have ever visited.
We stayed at the beautiful Riad Akka...
Ate breakfast on the Riad's roof terrace...
Saw all the sights...
And dinner at a selection of great restaurants- the v.Euro Euro darling cafe Arabe for the sunset...
Dar Essalem, a restaurant in a 17th century mansion, to follow in the footsteps of Doris Day and James Bond...
Where we giggled as a delightful old chap in red trousers was transfixed by a wobbly belly dancer - no photo, but oh - the look on his face!
And Riad Monceau for the birthday treat of a dear friend - Nick Mead, scourge of the Souk.
We did lots of shopping, naturally, as I was visiting with a superb negotiator...
Shopping in Marrakech with Nick Mead was one of the most amusing things I have ever done. It was even funnier to translate backwards and forwards - here are some choice snippets:
At the Maison de Kaftan Marocain
(Shopkeeper, gazing dreamily at me clad in a wizardy robe)
"Monsieur, your wife is beautiful. She is like a gazelle. If I had a wife as beautiful as yours, I would not just buy her this [overpriced jelaba]; I would buy her all [gesturing expansively at the entirety at Maison du Kaftan Marocain] this and more."
...some negotiation...
(Nick to shopkeeper, very firmly)
"I'm afraid this (1/5 of price quoted) is my final price."
(Shopkeeper to me, looking at a Nick as if his stinginess was an indication of wife-beating tendencies)
"Wah! He is a hard man. Madame, I am sorry, but your life is hard."
...following conclusion of negotiations...
"Madame, your husband, I think he is a Berber."
At a Moroccan bric-a-brac shop
(Me, clutching a silver-edged item to my heart)
I think we could manage a bit more...
(Nick)
Absolutely not.
(Me, apologetically, to shopkeeper)
I'm terribly sorry, but he makes the decisions. I am a sad lady and my life is hard.
(Shopkeeper, looking daggers at Nick)
"Madame, you are kind but this is a Good Price and you, Monsieur, are a Bad Man."
Happy birthday Nick Mead - I won't say how old you are, but you'll always be 27 to me xxxx
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