Marrakesh: and a tale of Peacock Pavilions and its cocktails

It must be Spring time because I'm serving cocktails at Peacock Pavilions made with flowers and herbs from our organic garden.  

*hibiscus flower cocktail with tequila  
*lemongrass lemonade with gin 
*lavender lovely with vodka.  {to name just a few}  

Every cocktail starts with a homemade simple syrup infused over low heat with the herb or flower.  It couldn't be easier but it's still special and unexpected.

{So I know it's Monday but cocktail, anyone?}

What are you drinking at your place?

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Marrakesh: a tale of Hassan Hajjaj and Riad Yima

I love stories  of redemption, of meteoric rises.  

Hassan Hajjaj told me that growing up his parents were so poor that they couldn't afford to buy him a single toy.  He used to comb the Moroccan beach near his home to see what the sea washed up.  He made his own toys, with the sea's discards.  

As a teenager, a low paid job for Hassan's father brought the whole family to London. They lived nine in a single room without a bathroom. 

But Hassan saw in the world something different.  He broke free and made his own way, becoming a club manager, a shop owner, a fashion designer, a lauded photographer. 

And then Hassan went back to Morocco and bought Riad Yima, his Marrakech courtyard house.

And had everything he never grew up with.

Riad Yima is also a shop, featuring Hassan's own pop modern designs.

 poufs...
Upcycled lanterns and furniture...

And, of course, Hassan's iconic photography.

If you're in Marrakech....make sure to drop by for a glass of mint tea...

 Riad Yima
52 derb Aarjane Rahba lakdima Medina
Marrakech Morocco
Tél: +212 (0) 524-391-987
E-mail: riadyima@yahoo.co.uk

Where to dine in Marrakech: and a tale of How Jack is Back

In case you were wondering where the hipsters dined in Marrakech....

Well, it's here...

Where the pizza is gourmet (and so is the artichoke carpaccio).  And the wine never stops flowing....

Then of course, there's dessert....

After dinner drinks? They've got you covered at the bar....

It seems the writing's on the wall (and even the ceiling)...

Yes, 

Jack is Back
10 rue Oued el Makhazine
At the outer edges of Hivernage and Guéliz
Marrakech
+212 5 24 43 38 90

PS Would you consider voting for my photo, entitled The A+ Girls (showing young Moroccan girls holding wooden school boards).  It's a finalist in a photo competition. Voting ends on April 5 and I'm in second place! Could you? Would you? Might you? That would be so nice if you did.  You can vote daily right here. Thank you!

Marrakech: and a sexy tale of Ooh-La-La

I should have known once I walked through the door at the Lotus Club in Marrakech, that the evening was going to be, well, different.

Because even though I was in a city almost 1000 years old with many men in djellabas and many women in headscarves, there seems to be something for everyone in Marrakech...  

Because, you see, Ooh-La-La was on stage...

What did you think? he asked.

All I could reply, weakly, was....ooh-la-la

Lotus Club

Rue Ahmed Chawki

Hivernage, Marrakech

Morocco

+212 (0) 524 421 736

Ladies, hold on to your husbands.....