MAJORELLE

Today we explored the outer area of Marrakech which is being developed quickly to accommodate the tourist industry and rapid population growth. We visited one of the most famous gardens in Marrakech, Jardin Majorelle. According to the brochure, the “garden is an overpowering abundance of vegetal shapes and forms representing five continents and reflects Jacques Majorelle’s significance as one of the most important plant collectors of his time.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Majorelle Gardens

The gardens were beautiful and it provided a few photo opportunities. We also spent a few minutes sketching in the gardens before we stopped for lunch. There was a nice café inside the garden where we enjoyed a lunch and a cold drink. I spent the rest of the day reading on the roof terrace at the Riad and enjoyed soaking up the sun. This was the perfect way to spend my spring break!

Cin Cin!

Trying to be sophisticated…

We had been building up the courage over the weekend to have a sheep head for dinner, and tonight we were going to try it. After walking around the restaurant booths and trying to choose the best looking heads, we finally just sat down and went for it. The heads are lined up on the counter with big smiles on their faces. When you order a head they drop it in boiling water and then chop up the whole head and serve it in individual dishes. In Marrakech it is proper etiquette to use your bread as a utensil to scoop up the meat and juice. Normally I have a hard time eating weird foods, but I was not going to pass up the opportunity to eat sheep head. Once I got passed the fact that I was eating the skin, bone and brains, it didn’t taste that bad. When Matt, Pat and Olen lost their appetite and began exploring through the bowl for identifiable parts I had a harder time eating, but I pressed on. I didn’t want the head to go to waste, so I just sprinkled more cumin and salt to get past the taste. When we identified the teeth and the tongue within the mix it was harder and harder not to gag. After we decided that we were full, the rest of the head was given to a beggar who was eager to finish everything that was left. I believe that the head is a delicacy in Marrakech because there were normally only locals who were eating the head and brains, but for us it was more of a joke.

Item #1: Grande Tete= Large Sheep head

On the chopping block...

Yum Yum!

Dish of Sheep Head

Close-up of tongue

This reminds me of about another part of the trip that most of us had a difficult time with. In the Riad there was one communal toilet which was conveniently located in a room adjacent to the main courtyard. Meaning that with no exhaust fan and a small door, your private act was turned into a public show. I think all I have to say is that after the sheep head, every one in the Riad got to enjoy the after effects…

View of city from the roof of our Riad.