Jardin Majorelle

Yesterday was pretty crazy and our return to the Place Jemaa el Fna last night confirmed that. Lots of illuminated food stalls and in the darkness around the periphery lots of Arab storytelling and games taking place, often lit by only a small gas light. Masses of people everywhere and certainly not just tourists.

In complete contrast we started today with a visit to the Jardin Majorelle. We were there as it opened and it was an amazing Oasis of calm. Majorelle was a French artist. He built a studio here and then gradually worked on the garden. It is mainly Palms, Bamboo and Cacti. The pots are painted in different bright colours and a strong indigo is used on the fences and buildings. The overall effect is superb.
Majorelle died in 1960 and the garden fell into disrepair. Some was sold off for development and the buildings were to be demolished but it was rescued by Yves St Laurent. He built the garden up again and after his death it was taken over by the YSL foundation. The original studio building is now an excellent Berber Museum. (The Berbers founded the city when they brought irrigation down from the Atlas mountains 9,000 years ago and created an oasis)
The shop was interesting and totally unaffordable!

Later we toured the Palmeria district. Huge areas of palms exist around Marrakesh. The land was once only occupied by camels but the area is rapidly becoming a place for exclusive villas. The palm trees are now protected by the government with massive fines for destroying them.

Our last stop was the Bahia Palace. Great architecture influenced by Andalucia (saw some similarities with the Alhambra in Granada) It is in the Jewish quarter where Jews settled in the 16th century to make gold coins for the royal family. Lots of interest in Marrakesh outside the Medina.

For something completely different I have been for a Hammam steam bath and scrub this afternoon with three other ladies. I really enjoyed it but am glad I wasn't alone!