Marrakech: and the joys of being a personal shopper

Oh, picture this.........on an island known for its beauty, a pristine sandy beach, an azure colored sea, palm trees dotted with tiny Moroccan lights.  Behind, a white washed restaurant lined with arches, the doors and windows painted a stunning Majorelle blue.  You walk in.....glimmering Moroccan lanterns hang from the ceiling, multi-colored leather poufs  surround low tables.  On the walls hand drawn Moroccan sepia portraits.  You are served a refreshing glass of mint tea in jewel-like Moroccan tea glasses.  In the background, strains of mixed jazzy Moroccan music.........

It's all so lovely.....Is it a dream? 

No it's real, or almost real.....It's the Kasbah ........

Those of you who read this blog, know my love for beautiful things and my passion for shopping.  And I am also lucky enough (pinch me!) to do personal shopping for individuals and stores.  Recently I had the very fun pleasure of shopping with two *super nice* clients who are building what will undoubtedly be a little Moroccan slice of paradise, the Kasbah, in the most incredible setting in Asia. 

Over three days we bought:

• Many metres of gorgeous Moroccan textiles
• Several stunning hammered tray tables
• Oodles of leather poufs
• Nearly 40 Moroccan lanterns in all shapes and sizes
• Gallons of Majorelle blue paint
• 100 exquisite Moroccan tea glasses with Moroccan tea pots
• Gleaming Moroccan door knockers and fountain spouts
• A dozen CDs, from Moroccan trance music to Moroccan lutes.... 

And much more.... 

My brief was to get them the very best things, at the very best prices.   Unraveling the mysteries of the Moroccan souks, I took them to my trusted sources.  And knowing the *real* prices of things (not the inflated tourist prices), I was able to efficiently bargain for them.  When it was all over, I helped arrange for it all to be reliably packed and shipped.

But the real fun of it all was helping them to fulfill a long awaited dream and take away some of the magic of this very special city, Marrakech ...........And you know shopping with other people's money isn't, cough, so bad either.......:-)

I can only imagine the grand opening of their  Kasbah .  I don't know about you, but I am saving my pennies because a plane ticket to Asia is only a credit card away....