Morocco

Doorway to Heaven

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Doorway to Heaven. Marrakesh, Morocco. February 2015. 

Doorway to Heaven. Marrakesh, Morocco. February 2015. 

The Spa at the Royal Mansour in Marrakesh may be one of the most beautiful spaces I have ever walked into. You enter the spa and walk down a candle lit hallway towards this glorious white birdcage. The Royal Mansour was commissioned by the King Mohammed IV and he wanted it to be a landmark that honored Morocco's regaled history of craftsmanship. You will see this craftsmanship reflected in the design and handmade details of the hotel and spa.

I took this photo as I was entering the spa lobby and it was a like walking into a piece of heaven. If you are looking for a brief and serene getaway from the medina, THIS is the place.

Palais de la Bahia Silhouette

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Self Reflection. Palais de la Bahia, Marrakech. February 2015. 

 

Surrounding the first courtyard you step into within Palais de la Bahia are large alcoves, some set with tile and a couple with mirrored walls. Of course, upon seeing the floor to ceiling mirrors, I saw a picture perfect setting for a self-portrait, or as I like to call it, a self-reflection. 

Young Faces of Douar Laadam

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Young Ones. Douar Laadam, Marrakech. February 2015. 

Young Ones. Douar Laadam, Marrakech. February 2015. 

The purpose of Project SOAR is to help provide an outlet for the children, specifically the young girls, who live in Douar Laadam. Week by week, Project SOAR does their part to help this village, and once you see the young faces in this town, you can understand why. 

When we went into the villlage all the kids playing in the streets nearby would come watch and interact with us. They were so curious about the Swatchroom Service team and what we were up to. The kids kept us company while we painted, climbed ladders, worked to music, and in return we showed them photos from our smart phones. I couldn't help but take a few pictures to remember these young kids with their exuberant personalities and burgeoning potential.  

Souk Specialties

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The hustle of the souks can give you anxiety or a good dose of adrenaline. I enjoy the frenetic action and, luckily, have a high tolerance for hard bargaining. Once you enter the maze, it is very difficult to exit without gaining some extra weight along the way. All self-restraint seems to go out the window. I ventured into the souk surrounding Jemaa el-Fna Square with one item in mind to purchase - a camel colored leather backpack. Of course, my shopping list grew significantly as I began to browse, bargain, and see what my Swatchroom Service teammates were picking up. 

Shopping in the souks is budget friendly as long as you are willing to play some hardball. Since you rarely find a price tag on any item, be ready with a number in mind. My rule of thumb, take a vendor's initial offer and counter with 1/3 of their asking price. Start there, be firm, haggle, but be prepared to walk away if they do not budge. If you walk away, more often than not, you won't get far before they track you down and accept your offer. Vendors are skilled at upselling and sometimes it works to your advantage if you bundle a few finds at one storefront. 

Here are a few things I picked up: 

  • Cognac Medical Bag: 650 MAD
  • Moroccan Wedding Blanket: 1,800 MAD
  • Pillow Cases: 200 MAD
  • White Moroccan Pouf Ottoman: 250 MAD
  • Camel Colored Backpack: 600 MAD
  • Black Crossbody Bag: 250 MAD
  • Patterned Clutch: 100 MAD
  • Fuscia Clutch: 85 MAD
  • Hamsas: 600 MAD
  • Horn Pendant: 130 MAD
  • Eucalyptus and Jasmine Oils: 50 MAD
  • Glasswear: 170 MAD

 

Mesmerizing Patterns of Marrakech

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Geometric patterns + colorful tiles + intricate carvings = absolute inspiration. It is impossible to leave Marrakech and not be enamoured with the patterns that weave through the city. In Marrakech, the details take center stage. 

Find the patterns pictured above at:

You can also find these places listed on my map of Marrakech here. 

Creating an Impact Through Swatchroom Service

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Painting the doors to the new 'Project SOAR' headquarters located in Douar Ladaam, Marrakech. February 2015. 

I never thought that I would enjoy inhaling oil paints, climbing ladders, and getting bumps and bruises; however, my recent trip to Marrakech proved that I could. 

Earlier this month, I had the privilege to be invited on a service trip to Marrakech organized by my good friend and creative force Maggie O'Neill, co-founder of creative design firm Swatchroom.  As small business owners, Maggie and her partner Warren Weixler have made local and international service a priority for Swatchroom. One of the beneficiaries of their service is Project SOAR, a young non-profit organization based in Douar Ladaam, a community 20 minutes outside downtown Marrakech. Project SOAR's mission is to provide extracurricular arts, health, and sports education to the young girls in this small community.

Maggie first traveled to Douar Ladaam a few years ago on a project for boutique hotel Peacock Pavilions. Peacock Pavilions was the vision of Maryam Montague and Chris Redecke, two individuals who also had visions of making a positive impact on the community right outside of their hotel walls. Maryam and Chris created Project SOAR, and Maggie was asked to join their Board. As a Board Member, Maggie organized creative service trips to Douar Ladaam, and this year I was lucky enough to participate in one. 

The primary purpose of our service trip was to get our hands dirty painting, staining, and decorating facilities used by Project SOAR girls. Our Swatchroom Service team spent a week painting a new mural on a wall next to a basketball court the girls use to play, ombréing, staining, and stenciling the tent walls for their yoga tent, and painting the brand new Project SOAR headquarters building.

We were also fortunate to participate in a Project SOAR Sunday where once a week, 40-50 young girls ranging in age from 4-14 participate in extracurricular programming. Programs range from yoga and basketball to lectures on health and hygiene. Our Project SOAR Sunday was centered on the arts. The young girls helped put the finishing touches on our wall mural and yoga tent walls. 

It was incredibly heartwarming watching these young girls light up as they picked up paint brushes. We may not have been able to communicate linguistically, but we were able to connect through art. It was also incredibly satisfying completing and accomplishing our projects with friends. It is a service experience I will never forget and a fantastic way to begin the new year. 

I must give a shoutout to my fellow 2015 Swatchroom Service teammates Shannon Case, Zoe Feldman, Dominique Fierro, Paige Speyer, and of course, our fearless leader, Maggie O'Neill. Check out these amazing women:

Zoe Feldman: Zoe Feldman Design

Dominque Fierro: Dominique Fierro Photo and Design

Maggie O'Neill: Swatchroom & Maggie O'Neill Fine Art

Paige Speyer: Wink