Tucked away behind a nondescript door at the end of a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, is a beautiful haven called Riad Medina. We were lucky enough to have it all to ourselves, and we basked in the luxurious space filled with colorful tapestries and intricate tiling. It truly was a sanctuary amidst the chaos of the old medina... we didn't want to leave.
A big thank you to our lovely hosts who filled our stomachs with amazing food and helped us explore the incredible city.
It was a 5 hour drive from Chefchaouen to Fez in the old Mercedes taxi. With no AC, we had the windows rolled down, and the air that whipped across my face and through my hair felt like a blow dryer. Speeding along the highway, we drove through groves of olive and almond trees, past dry brown fields once filled with hay, and small towns consisting of only a handful of decrepit buildings. We passed swarms of children walking home from school in small groups, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, sometimes crouched in the shade of a broken down wall. The lucky ones sat nonchalantly on a donkey, getting the easy and (somewhat) faster ride home.
After a few days in the charming village of Chefchaouen, we were ready for a bit more grit. What better place to find it than the largest living Islamic medieval city in the world. The medina in Fez is also believed to be the largest contiguous car-free area in the world. That being said, nothing can really prepare you for the labyrinth of narrow alleys and markets, the restaurants, workshops and mosques that fill the maze of passages.
Fez is a city of assaults. Assaulted by the young boys offering hotel rooms and tours to the tanneries, by people pushing their carts through the dense crush of bodies in the narrow streets, by the local shoppers, by the shop keepers calling to you with their olives and nugget and leather slippers for sale.
You are assaulted by the donkeys that barge through the crowds, laden with hides and produce, by the thousands of stray cats, by the wandering chickens.
And of course, you are assaulted by the smells. Of spices, of smoke, of fresh bread and tagine, of donkey dung, of semi-cured animal skins from the tannery. One moment you are intoxicated, the next, debilitated.
People are yelling at you to buy things, to move out of the way, offering rooms and restaurants. Donkey hooves strike loudly on the cobblestone alleys. The call to prayer layers itself over the city, rushing over rooftops, nestling into the alleys below. The distorted stream of Arabic vibrates in the air, echoing off the stone walls.
This assault on the senses is exhausting, yet somewhat addicting. After an invigorating mint tea in the solace of our riad, we are off again to explore the secrets of the medina...
SO honored to be featured on Style Me Pretty Canada today! This was absolutely one of my favorite weddings of the year... so many beautiful details and an incredibly stunning couple (not to mention one of the sweetest!). Big love to Style Me Pretty and the lovely couple. xoxo
To see the full post... part 1 and part 2.
Gurpreet & Dimple's stunning 2 day wedding was featured on Tutu & Fru's Wedding blog yesterday! Big love! xoxo
Yes, I'm in Morocco. After a busy (and incredibly wonderful) summer in Vancouver, I was in dire need of spreading my wings (and mind)... thus the order for an adventure! It is now day 6, three of which were spent in Madrid to decompress before the madness of Morocco. We flew into Tangier, then hired a car to take us to Chefchaouen, a small village in the Rif mountains two hours away, known to many for its indigo blue-washed buildings and to others for its kief, which grows abundantly in the hills.
This turned out to be a wonderful introduction to Morocco. The various hues of blue make for an incredible palette, although the locals shy away from being photographed. I don't blame them; I wouldn't want tourists photographing me on my front porch every day either. Although it has changed little since it first opened its doors to foreigners in 1920 (over 400 years after it was first founded in 1471), Chefchaouen has accommodated for the thousands of tourists that swarm its narrow stone streets with a plethora of restaurants (all with the same 10 items on the menu) and shops brimming with silver trinkets, woven rugs and wool clothing. Yes, Chefchaouen had a beautiful charm... now on to Fes, the oldest of the imperial cities, said to be the symbolic heartbeat of the country.
How stunning are these women?
Yes, both my brothers got married in one summer. Whew! Due to seriously limited time constraints I have to make this post short (my words, that is, because don't get me started on how much I love my brother or my family or how they will take over every dance floor), but I will say that this was one of the most beautiful and fun weddings I have been to. So much love and so many beautiful details. Since I was doing double duty as photog and bridesmaid, I had the help of Amy Mackay help with the ceremony photos and my aunt Lo taking photos of family and bridesmaids! Thanks so much!
Cody & Jena, love you both so much! What an incredible day! xoxo
