Riad Marelia

Fortunately, this opportunity coincided with a significant family anniversary; consequently, my sister and her boyfriend, and my partner and I packed our bags, left our offices for a week of sunshine and intrepid adventures and reunited in the ancient medina of Marrakesh.
Our taxi deposited us outside the hotel, on a busy street with squealing children chasing dogs and bickering, wizened gentlemen sitting in doorway. It might have been a taste of authentic Marrakesh, but it wasn’t exactly the most inspiring setting for an intimate, romantic getaway. That was, of course, until we were welcomed into the courtyard by Brahim, our host. Here, we sank deep into a large daybed in the shade of the internal courtyard and effortlessly relaxed into the Moroccan pace of life. As we sleepily sipped our tea, weary from our flight, nothing could be heard but the occasional rustling of leaves in the tree-lined outdoor spaces, and the gentle sloshing of he small plunge pool in the centre of the courtyard.

Having eating our fill of tiny complimentary welcome cakes, we ascended the rustic staircase to our rooms. Each of the guest suites is individually decorated in a simple but charming traditional Moroccan style. Through an original carved doorway, our room is painted a pristine white with fresh pastel accents; a canopy over the bed and cool tiled floor complete the picture. It is romantic, airy, an ideal contrast to the dry heat of the city. The hotel boasts just seven suites, and so while our room is open to the courtyard below, the peaceful ambience of this riad retreat makes it the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of the sun-drenched streets beyond its unassuming ochre walls. Naturally, I nip along the open-air corridor, following the scent of jasmine and orange blossom, to my sister’s room: with a deep burgundy four-poster bed and decorative shuttered windows, her room is opulent and intimate where mine is light and dreamlike.

We took our first afternoon very leisurely, to rest and recuperate before spending the following days scouring the souks. Choosing a shady patch under a lemon tree on one of the four rooftop terraces, we sank into plush loungers and enjoyed catching up and drinking in the panoramic views of the architectural patchwork that composes the Marrakesh skyline. The views extend beyond, too, to the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, tinted blue with the distance. It is a tranquil spot, but from the terrace the faint noises of the streets below create a low hum, a pulse, reminding us that we are in the heart of an exciting, dynamic city filled with life.

And what better way to experience Marrakesh than by taking to the streets. In the labyrinthine medina, the Riad Marélia is plunged deep into the rich local culture, though this is best viewed at Jemaa el-Fnaa Squarem, just five minutes from the hotel. Here, and at one of the many souks in the city, we lost your sense of direction wandering through the streets but found so much more: with teeny boutiques selling decorative slippers, and Moroccan sweet stalls selling all manner of exotic treats. With vendors shouting at you from all different directions and the sounds of rare animals squawking and bleating, the pungent smells of spices, garlic and leather, the dim light glittering off bejewelled slippers and intricate glasswork, the impression can be overwhelming.

But, of course, after long days spent haggling and bartering with vendors, sampling never-before-seen foods and dodging snake-charmers and dancing monkeys, we were always happy to return to the peaceful idyll of the Riad Marélia.