My good friend Dana has fantastic taste – and she loves traveling just as much as I do. Last year we went on our first trip together to Mykonos, and we have a ski trip to St. Anton coming up in March. So when she shared the stories of her trip to Morocco with me, I was immediately sold! Not only did I add it to my list of must-travel places, but I knew it would make a great travel guide. So here is my first guest post, written by Dana!
Mercedes & Dana
Hi! My name is Dana and I’m a fellow expat in Amsterdam with Mercedes. I recently spent 5 magical days in Morocco with my college bestie. The trip was an incredible whirlwind of color, beautiful craftsmanship, amazing eats, and the kindest people.
Our home base was in Casablanca to be close to the sea, and we also visited Marrakech. We stayed at the Four Seasons Casablanca – amazing staff, gorgeous pool, sea views, a relaxing spa, and a great restaurant. Highly recommend.
A note on safety: we felt safe the entire trip, but be smart! We hired cars from the hotel (but if you’re going to taxi, take the red ones) and listened to the local staff on where is safe to visit.
Now onto the list!
Wander the small, winding paths of the local souk and marvel at the locally made treasures. We actually had to buy a new suitcase to get all our new treasures home! After all, the leather poufs and woven rugs would have cost at least 5x the price at the trendy shops of Amsterdam or San Francisco. It would practically have been a crime to leave them behind! Make sure to find the food area of the souk as well and stock up on dates and olives as the perfect travel snack.
Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought and revitalized Jardine Majorelle in the 1980s, maintaining the villa’s iconic royal blue. The gardens are full of beautiful local fauna and their villa now houses a museum of the native Berber people, how they lived and dressed. Next door is the YSL museum, a modern building built using the traditional (and stunning) pinkish terra cotta. Inside is a treasure trove of past YSL collections, sketches, and the story of his life. Pro tip: stop in the museum store to bring home some of YSL’s iconic love posters and the most affordable designer necklace you’ll ever buy. They’re made even more special because the gold is hand shaped by local Moroccan artisans. This stop was the surprise favorite of the trip!
Morocco has incredible cuisine to explore, from traditional dishes to amazing French patisserie. My favorites were the chicken tagine, fattoush salad, hummus, and the ghriba almond cookies! Also you can’t miss the mint tea! They lovingly refer to it as ‘Moroccan whiskey’. It’s exceptional and comes with a show as they pour the tea from impressive heights to increase aeration.
Favorite restaurant of the trip: Dar Dada. This place had immaculate vibes! Set inside a Riad, you dine in the open courtyard with a mix of locals and tourists enjoying the traditional Moroccan cuisine. There’s even a belly dancing show to top off the night.
The architecture and tile work in Morocco is stunning and absolutely a highlight of the trip! In Marrakech, my favorite spot to see this at its finest was the Bahia Palace. The building started in 1859, and as you stroll the gardens you can just feel the history.
In Casablanca, the crown jewel is the incredible Mosque Hassan II. This mosque is the 3rd most significant in the Muslim religion, with the 2nd tallest minaret in the world. Perched on the seaside, the outside is almost as beautiful as the intricate tiled and enormous indoor space. 105,000 worshipers can gather for prayer here. It’s possible to visit in the morning hours, check their website for details.
In Marrakech, there are a number of insanely elegant and posh hotels in old palaces and Riads. It’s another great way to see the intricate tile work that Morocco is famous for in pristine condition. We visited La Mamounia and it did not disappoint! Highly recommend a visit for an aperitivo, dinner, or lunch as we did. Before or after, stroll the incredible grounds and window shop in the designer boutiques, the likes of Saint Laurent and Bottega.
It may be cliche, but for me, this bucket list item was a must! My gal was named Sophie and I adored her. Her baby Valentine walked with us and nursed as we went along. 🥺 For the best experience, make a day trip from Marrakech out to the Agafay Dessert where you can get a taste of life in a Berber village. If you’re strapped for time, Palm Grove is an area just outside the city where you can ride a camel and get the shot while saving time. 📸🐪
You’re in Morocco! Go for it – break out the chic linen wear, sparkly earrings, and a silk head scarf. For inspiration, watch the Sex and the City movie #2! Yes, I know it’s a terrible movie, but the outfits are giving and it was mostly filmed in Morocco.
Lastly, remember this is a Muslim country. You can respect their culture by covering your shoulders and keeping skirts below the knee. Also, I recommend having a light scarf handy that you can wear if/when you visit a mosque.
I’m Dana.
My name is Dana, and I’m a fellow expat in Amsterdam with Mercedes. I’ve lived in Amsterdam with my husband (and cat!) for three years. When the opportunity to move here with my job came up, we jumped on it! It fulfilled our dream of living abroad and experiencing all the cultural splendor that Europe has to offer. To follow along with my fashion adventures, check out my Instagram @whatdanawore.
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