A weekend in beatifull Marrakesh

Morocco, June 2024

By Francisco Morais

July 14^th, 2024

From Lisbon to the Red City

In early June 2024, we boarded a morning flight from Lisbon and landed in Marrakesh just one hour later. The change was immediate: warm air scented with citrus and spices, the Atlas Mountains etched on the horizon. Within an hour, we had checked into our riad—an oasis of carved wood and hand-painted zellij tiles tucked behind salmon-hued walls.

First Afternoon: The Medina’s Labyrinth

Marrakesh or Marrakech is the fourth-largest city in Morocco. It is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakesh–Safiregion. The city lies west of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

Our first steps led straight into the medina’s heart. Narrow alleys opened onto stalls piled high with woven carpets, copper lanterns, and heaps of saffron-stained pottery. We paused at a spice merchant, inhaling cardamom, cinnamon, and rose-petal blends before weaving on past doorways painted in bright blues and ochres. The bustle was electric yet intimate—each turn revealing a hidden fountain, a weathered door, or a cat stretched across sun-warmed stone.

Anniversary Evening: A Private Riad Dinner

That night, we celebrated 25 years of marriage in the riad’s rooftop sala. Lanterns hung from painted arches, lantern light dancing on our table set with couscous and lamb kefta. Live oud music drifted on the breeze as we toasted with cocktails and some wine, recalling decades of travels and the promise of journeys still to come.