My Marrakesh

A Marrakech tale: reflections on beauty

Oh, you can say otherwise, but I think we all wish to be beautiful.  We know better of course.  As people of substance, we know that it's the beauty on the inside that counts.  That external beauty is fleeting.  That it's the kind heart, the generous nature, the grace under pressure -- those are the real traits to aspire to. 

But nonetheless, the vain part of us longs, if secretly, to be, well,  beautiful.  At least a little bit.   

I've had my prettier moments.  And I've had my uglier times.  But now, with my birthday fast approaching, I see that it's not circumstance that's robbing me, but age.  That fresh unblemished skin that I took for granted has now made way to wrinkles.  I know that I'm supposed to love them - to see them as evidence of a life well lived, each laugh line hard fought for.  But, the truth is, I don't love them.  I don't even like them.  Inside, I still feel like I'm no more than 30 but on the outside, I'm....unmistakably, middle aged. 

But for now, I'm pretending.  I'll be off with the family for the next three days shooting a brochure and commercial (for private use) for a luxury resort.  Here's to hoping that the makeup artist can hide the traces of Summers without sunscreen and that the hairdresser can mask those pesky strands of grey.  Follow my comings and goings on Twitter.

  Maybe the world's smallest beauty salon, shot in Kashmir.

Moroccan interior design: Moroccan wedding blankets at Peacock Pavilions

Vintage Moroccan wedding blankets.  Perhaps the world's most beautiful blankets.  Really.

For the foot of the bed, for the back of a couch, as a hanging on a wall, as a glamorous rug.

Thought to bring baraka,   or Moroccan good luck/blessings.  (A feng shui expert told me that hers helped turn her from a single girl to a married one.  Ahem, I'm just saying....)

Vintage. Hand picked by me.  Perfect organic glamour.

Perhaps you might like to make one yours? See all the dreamy new stock right here (click back a page or two to see everything).  Drop me a note to inquire about pricing at maryam@mtds.com

Pictures shot at Peacock Pavilions.  Well, of course.

Sanaa Yemen: and a shopping tale

I found it in Yemen, I found it in San'aa -- that place of unparalleled mystery, teeming with beautiful women in floating black.

There I was in in the old Yemen souks in a tiny shop crowded with oddities .  It wasn't my first time there -- I had already left with old inscribed bowls, with antique lacy lanterns, with a large silver and coral ring.  And so I was bold.  I leaned over the glass counter, looking into the turban clad owner's eyes. 

Show me something special, very special,  I said. 

Special? he repeated. Oh, I have something you've never seen before.  But it's in my home.  Will you wait while I get it?  He asked.

Yes, I said. I'll wait.

He was back soon. And he brought it out from underneath his robes.

I've never had another one, he said.  It's maybe...the only one like it.

It was all brass, heavy.  Almost 11 inches tall.

I held it from my fingertips.  I spun it.

It was... another world.

So finely etched, by hand.

Arabic letters, a fox. With each twirl, a new surprise.

I didn't have enough money for it. I didn't have enough money really. But the lure of a parallel universe --the one from the inside looking out -- was too alluring. And so I left.....my wallet empty....

But constellations in my pocket.

A Marrakech tale: a tasty recipe for a French TV commercial

Ingredients (specialty food store or purchase online):

1 French director, 1 French camera man, 1 French creative director +

2 Moroccan production directors+

1 German sound guy +

1 Moroccan clothes stylist, 1 French accessories stylist+

1 Moroccan makeup artist + NO hairstylist (whoops!) +

20+ crew members and clients (grips, handlers, fixers, other-people-who-do-important-stuff ) +

2 huge trucks filled with fancy equipment

In a separate bowl:

1 slightly confused American family living in Marrakech

Preparation (approximate time: 3 days):

Begin at the crack of dawn (yawn, stumble, coffee)

Whisk ingredients together  (batter will remain slightly lumpy)

Simultaneously chill, poach, simmer, boil on location at:

* 3 swanky hotels/resorts

* Water park (rent the whole thing and balance the cameraman precariously over the quadruple water slide)

* Bahia Palace

* Souks

* Atlas Mountains

* Jemma el Fnaa Square

* Horse and carriage

Sprinkle in:  sparkly eyed excitement, broad smiles, tinkly laughter, plain old amazement (On cue when you hear the word:  Action!)

 

 Sit by the stove while: smarty pants film/ad people edit, mix, present to clients, and whatever else it is that they do.

Serve and enjoy starting October 1 , 2009, on French television channels near you.

Note: Adult supervision needed if trying this recipe at home