Author: melisajohnson

Missie’s hangout for the next few days at Kasbah du Toubkal by the foothills of the Atlas Mountains just south of Marrakech. Not too shabby…

What better to do on a cool rainy night and sit around a fire with good friends.  As Peggy said tonight- “look how lucky we all are!”

After a wonderful cooking class and lunch I settled into my room by the fire (which they sorted for me) and had a nice massage.  Not a bad afternoon!

We made our first trip into the Medina yesterday and I have to say I enjoyed it.  It wasn’t nearly as busy as the markets in India and the people were not as aggressive.  Now don’t get me wrong…  I am not ready to go and look to buy anything and haggle on price.

The first place we made it into was a community bakery.  Still you have families who bring there bread and other baked goods every morning for baking.

After that we went in and saw how they make pottery, heat the public bath houses and bake in the cooled ashes.  It was amazing!  Funny enough the guy liked to play a traditional guitar type of thing and a guy on our group happened to have a flute in his backpack so he could join in…  I mean doesn’t everyone carry around a flute?

This morning started off with a little workout no the rooftop and Deborah was kind enough to join me.  It was really cold to be up working out… if you ask me, but I think I am just a bit spoiled.

Next came breakfast, a walk through the gardens and our first cooking class.  We all go to make our own tangine- my was a bit of a mixture, but really nice.

First we put a layer of onions (1/2 an onion), then added our chicken and spices.  From there it went onto the coals.  While it was cooking we cut up our “add ins”.  I added potato, carrots and zucchini with some lemon.  After we added in our vegetables we took a break and then came back to the main house.  About an hour later we were sitting at the table with our creations!  It was a great lunch!

Unfortunately the internet is not strong, so I can’t get the photos to upload now…

We are off to the markets this afternoon… so that should be an experience.

It has been a really low key day, but very relaxing.  The rest of the group gets in today… so tonight it will get busy.

I woke up around 6:30 and made my way out for a cup of tea and an omelet around 8:30.  After breakfast we went on a 2.5 mile walk just to get moving.  It was really nice out, but I guess that is only because I am from Cayman!  Most of the others thought it was way too hot to be out walking.

Just a few shots from our walk this morning.

After a lovely dinner with Peggy and Sole last night I headed off for bed around 10:00 and I must have been rather sleepy as I didn’t wake up until 7:30 this morning.  After just lounging around my room I headed for breakfast- which was perfect… eggs and lots of veggies.  We ate in the beautiful garden (where all our meals will be).

Then back to the room and off for a little jog.  There is a trail that starts right outside out hotel gates so I jumped on it and ran two miles through the desert (which I didn’t think about how dirty my shoes would get, so much for pretty clean shoes).  It was nice running in the cool weather (60 degrees) and  only about 35% humidity.

Amazingly enough I was back long enough to clean up and then head to lunch!  We had a three hour lunch in the gardens once again.

Now a little break from food- so I may take a walk through the gardens and take some photos.  We are meeting back up at 6 for a drink prior to dinner.

Probably one of the best things is what Sole and I are calling the laundry fairy.  I left my laundry in the basket before lunch and I came back and it was all washed and folded on the bed!  I really wish there was a laundry fairy at my house in Cayman!