Jardin Majorelle (The Breathtaking Garden of Marrakech)

Wellness is not only about the body, it’s also about the spirit and the soul. It’s important to slow down and breathe in.

Taking time off everyday routine is one of the ways to do this – let work and home troubles behind you. De-stress and reconnect. Get inspired. That is one of my favourite things about going on holiday, it allows you to recharge your batteries and feel fresh again.

Now, the Medina in Marrakech may be chaotic, vibrant, and energetic, but the Jardin Majorelle near the Gueliz area of the city is one of the most peaceful and beautiful gardens I have ever been to.

Matt and I decided to walk there from our Riad under the warm, shining sun. It took over an hour, but it was such a pleasant walk we didn’t mind at all. We got a chance to navigate the Souks (markets) and see a different side of Marrakech right outside the walls of Medina.

The gardens were created by Jacques Majorelle, and bought by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980 to save it from becoming a hotel complex, and their foundation in France now maintains the gardens (and they’re doing a great job if you ask me!)

The gardens were quite empty, so we just strolled around, enjoyed the sun, and soaked it all in. It was so calming. So revitalising. Oh, also, make sure you visit the museum as well as the gardens – it’s incredible!

I loved all the vibrant blue around the garden!
The garden has trees and plants from all over the world – this little fellow above is from Brasil!
Seems like I got a bit hungry after all that relaxing…

So we headed to Terasse des Épices for lunch (we walked there as well). I had read great reviews, and plus, on a sunny day, there is nowhere better to eat then a roof terrace. It’s one of those places where there are mainly tourists, but the food is actually good. I do recommend it!

We started off with an orange & citrus juice and an avocado one. Morocco does the best orange juice I have ever tasted, but this time the star of the show was the avocado juice. It was creamy and mild, perfect for lounging in the sun while working on your holiday tan.

For my starter, I got the incredibly delicious pastilla of chicken. Now, I’d had this once before, randomly in a food stall in Southbank, and couldn’t wait to have it again. It’s a pastry filled with chicken, almonds, cinnamon, and sugar. It sounds like a mixture of sweet and savoury, and that is exactly what it is. A delicious explosion of flavours in your mouth.

 
Boeuf tagine with figs for my main. So so good.

We lazed about in the sun, loading up on vitamin D and taking our sweet time. It was definitely not a day to be rushed. It felt amazing to live by our own schedule, doing things at our own pace. It can be a rare treat living and working somewhere like London.

All in all, an incredible day which finished with some delicious and sweet mint tea.

Besides the garden, the hammams in Morocco are also incredible to revitalise. Matt and I went to a duo one and got scrubbed, rubbed, exfoliated, splashed, and massaged within an inch of our life. We felt leaving brand new.

Little anecdote – Because of the heat and the steam, I almost fainted at the end! The ladies at the hammam had to give me lots of sugar water and Matt had to hold and hover around me. He and the masseuse had to hold my hand as we went up the stairs. As soon as I had some water in my system it was all fine, and I was left to enjoy my glorious massage. Bliss.

(I went to this spa, and quasi-faint incident apart, it was great!)