Babouches galore and other leather goods of the souk, Marrakech, Morroco…

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There is a sea of leather goods throughout the souks: belts, bags, totes, boots, sandals, saddles and my favorite, babouches, the traditional Berber slippers in every color, material, shape and size you could possibly imagine.  
Many stalls get their products from small factories that operate within the souk, the person who runs the stall is essentially a salesperson of the products. When I asked for a certain size of a slipper at one of the stalls, which he didn’t have, the keeper asked me to follow him. We sped through the winding, alleys, roads and walkways and eventually ended up in Babouche Nirvana.
Aznag Ali, 33 Souk Smata, Marrakech is filled with the babouches of your dreams, and then some.
From the most basic,  
to the unique and elaborate. 
I love wearing these comfy, colorful slippers around the house for lounging and entertaining and they make great gifts. 
The souk is much more than just stores, it’s an complex industrial structure, we caught glimpses of most every stage of manufacturing of the goods we were seeking. For instance, there’s a whole section devoted to leather making, wandering through we saw workers cutting, sewing, braiding and hammering leather to craft these goods. It’s also common to come across leather pelts, tanned and drying in the hot African sun, the beginning of the process. 
Here are babouches framed as art at one of the restaurants we visited.
I found these elaborate saddles and bridles at another shop to be quite a work of art as well. 
This beautiful fountain shop was just one place to find incredible hand woven leather belts. 
Here’s a pair of Berber slippers I found at another shop and absolutely love, they also made slippers out of denim, brocade and other interesting fabrics.
If you can’t make it to Morocco, maybe you can find something you like Babouchescuir.com, a website that ships traditional Berber babouches, sandals and boots. 

Souk Sustenance, Marrakech, Morroco…

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Every day, our comings and goings took us through the souks in The Medina, the living, breathing, beating heart of this lively city. 
These bazaars are much more than a touristic attraction, this is where the locals create, produce, market and sell their wares. 
As they have been for hundreds of years the narrow, cobbled roads are busy with rumbling carts bringing products from the surrounding hills and countrysides into the stalls.
I think these are hops drying in the sun. 
This is also where the locals go to shop.
 Here, they can buy local ripe pomegranates, citrus and bananas
tomatoes,
and an abundance of dried dates. 
There’s even a little take~out to be found. Here are clay pots filled with meaty stews, all cooked in a fiery stove and ready to be reheated and served at home, like the pot of stew Mr. Splendid enjoyed at Terrace des Epices. 
Perfect with a side of grilled corn. 
Or, if you had the time, you could buy your favorite cut of beef to prepare for dinner. 
It’s all here in the souk. 

Terrace des Epices, lunching in Marrakech…

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Our first day out in The Médina was a sensory over~crush ~ glorious waves and bursts of color, confusion, conversation, movement, layers, language, shapes, abundance and lively life. 
We loved every minute of it, but definitely needed a moment, midday, to sit down and get nourished for the afternoon. We had a list of places that looked interesting, but also got a few recommendations on the street,
which definitely led us in the right direction. 
Terraces des Epices is a great example of one of the many groovy gathering spots in Marrakech you can go to enjoy incredible cuisine and delectable indoor~outdoor ambiance.
Oh, and if you are coming by helicopter, don’t worry, the pad is well labeled.
We started out with fresh squeezed juices and were amuse bouche’d with spicy green olives and tapenade, 
followed up with a platter of local favorites, mostly vegetables, eggplant, beets, lentils, peppers and carrots, each blended with a combination of traditional spices and served with warm flatbread. 
The sail shaped covers sheltered us from the high sun above.
Marrakech is a densely populated city so rooftops are prized and well utilized. From up on the roof you can absorb a whole different perspective of this world. 
I’ve been somewhat obsessed with tagines, tagines these past few years, so, I must admit, I think I ordered a version of this North African classic for pretty much every meal on our trip. 
Every meal we had was fascinating and delicious {a restaurant post is coming up}, but this chicken tagine was one of the best. Just a classic…. chicken, olives, preserved lemons, spices, simple, but so luscious. 
After all of that hard “studying” I’m perfecting a recipe/ methodology which I’ll share with you soon. 
Mr. Splendid ordered a classic stew which arrived in a sealed clay pot which was ceremoniously  de~capped and poured into his clay bowl,
oozing with rich, spicy scents, steam broth and hunks of melt~in~your~mouth~tender beef . 
Ready for a trip to a powder room? 
I love this dark, mysterious hallway. 
Throughout our stay, I yearned to return to this splendidly spirited restaurant, but we moved on and found even more wonderful places to nourish our bodies and passion for this great country.
I’ll post all of my favorites soon. 

If these doors could talk, The Médina, Marrakech, Morroco….

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The next morning we stepped out the door of our riad and started our walk to the souke and realized immediately we were in a completely different world.
My head was spinning, and my camera was clicking, trying to absorb all of the exotic sights, sounds, smells, crowds and languages that were whizzing by us. 
For some reason I thought I was going to find a more westernized version of the Marrakech I’ve always imagined, but this was very real and delightfully very foreign to me. 
It’s been so amazing reviewing and editing all of my photos from this trip, a wonderful way to relive our stay in this enchanting city and to figure out how I can best share this story with you.

Today I thought I’d focus on the back drop, the doors and walls that surrounded us as we explored The Médina…
they were deeply historical,
mysterious,

complicated,

contrasting,

complex,

beautiful,

patinated,
elegant,

hand crafted,

colorful,

exotic,
rustic,

and enlightening.

Thanks for coming on this journey with me, much more to come. 
اشوفك بعدين

Traditional Moroccan Riads…

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Riads are the traditional grand homes of Morocco. The word “riad” is Arabic for garden. Riads are designed with an interior courtyard or garden, usually with a fountain in the center and citrus trees.
Riads were designed to provide privacy, tranquility and shelter from the busy city surrounds for families. During the winter months the open ceiling is covered to protect the courtyard from rain. Today, many riads have been renovated into intimate hotels and restaurants. 
We stayed at a lovely, warm little riad in the heart of the Medina, the old part of the city, called Riad Claire Fontaine. All of the rooms look out onto the courtyard and guests tend to leave their doors open for light and air. Our Bella Raffaela suite was spacious and had opulent traditional architectural details. 
Staying in a riad is like staying in a large private home. Claire Fontaine was decorated with an eclectic collection of local furniture including this lovely inlaid desk, chair and mirror;
dark wood closets and luxurious upholstery {the blue and white blanket is ours, more on shopping and textiles to come!}
The hotel had someone pick us up at the stunning Menara airport who rushed us through the busy city and then into the Medina where he dropped us at a taxi stand in the center of the old town. 
We were met at the taxi stand and led through the narrow roads to arrive at the tiny front door of our new home away from home. 
Each morning we had a leisurely, fortifying breakfast in the dining room

including the beautiful and delicious pale green pistachio yogurt in the shot below.

In the evenings, after our busy days of exploring, we would retire to the roof top to unwind
with a glass of wine and a tray dates, nuts and chips.
Our favorite time on the roof was the night we watched the super moon rise over the roof tops and listened to the minarets broadcasting the adhan, summoning followers to prayer. To share the moment and experience this rich, haunting call click on up on the roof. 

Next post, we’ll hit the Souks….

stay tuned. 

Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech, Morroco…,

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When Mr. Splendid asked me where I would like to go for a special little birthday trip this year I didn’t hesitate to respond…  “Marrakech”. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit and from the Nice airport it’s just a three hour flight into RAK, the beautiful new Moroccan airport.

Since it’s cold and dreary in many parts of the world right now I thought this would be a good time to take you on a tour of this warm and exotic land rich with colors, culture and traditions. Today we’ll visit the amazing Majorelle Garden and study a shade of color that is sure to beat even the deepest  January blues. 

I’ve been intrigued by this exotic place for quite some time and my inspiration to visit was heightened when I saw scenes of Yves Saint Laurent’s home there in the film L’amour Fou, so of course we had to make our way to the Rue Yves Saint Laurent to tour his Jardin Majorelle. 
The gardens are lush, natural, tranquil and grand, filled with forest bamboo, succulents, palm trees and other exotic planting. The garden was originally developed by French artist Jacque Majorelle. After some unfortunate accidents, the artist moved to Paris and never returned. In 1961 Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé rescued the property from being developed into a hotel after having enjoyed the public grounds for years.

Here is what Pierre Bergé said about the garden they had fallen in love with and eventually made their home: 
“We quickly became very familiar with this garden, and went there every day. It was open to the public yet almost empty. We were seduced by this oasis where colours used by Matisse were mixed with those of nature.”
As we wandered through the the expanse of peaceful sittings it was easy to imagine YSL and friends like fashion editor, Marian McEvoy lounging in the shade on thick Berber textiles and sipping mint tea of on hot Moroccan afternoons.
YSL & Marian McEvoy
The large verdant plots are separated by tiled walkways and unpretentious water features.

This reflection pond was stunning in it’s simplicity and how it magically mirrored the spectacular plantings and Moroccan skies.
I loved square shape and the cool, pale, aquamarine color of the outer pool of this fountain.
Majorelle Blue, named for the artist who created the garden, was the prominent shade throughout the compound. Based on the ancient paint color ultramarine, which was originally created with ground Lapis Lazuli {once more precious than gold}, Jacque Majorelle developed a more affordable modern pigment that mimicked the Lapis tint. 
We bought a jar of it in powder form that can be blended into paints, or glue or water… I’m not sure what I’ll do with it yet, but with this shade, it will be hard to go wrong, right?
The Italians call this shade of blue oltramarino  meaning “from beyond the seas.”
If you love the color blue as much as I do click on shades of blue, for more on this particular shade and most every other beauteous hue of blue you can imagine. 
For even more details on the history of this sought after shade visit Imports from Marrekech .
You may also be interested in exploring Yves Klein Blue.
The Majorelle Blue was accented with tints of pale aquamarines, greens, yellows and terracotta as well as the textural green landscape and the climbing bougainvillea. 
Within the buildings there was a museum of the culture and history of the Berbers, including many pieces Bergé and Saint Laurent had collected over the years. There was also a terraced café and a gift shop, but the living quarters were not open for touring..
…however, if you’d like to take a peek inside these Moorish style walls to the intricately decorated rooms just click on Villa Oasis.
The Galerie Love, just off the gift shop is devoted to the posters YSL created each year, mostly using collage, and sent out as New Year’s greetings to friends and clients.
Les Quatre Saisons Yves Saint Laurent
If you have a chance to visit this very special garden, dress accordingly, because there are so many picturesque settings for you to pose with your sweetie, or your bff or just yourself; read on for my recommendation. 
 In general, I avoid publishing faces on Splendid Market, but I’m going to share a few shots of Mr. Splendid and myself, just so you can see what I mean about the settings. Many of the people who work at Jardin Majorelle are actually Berbers, and are very passionate about the gardens. From our experience, they are very happy to take pictures of you, in fact we had a fellow who guided us around the garden and showed us where to pose and took numerous shots of us in each key location. 
Look at the lush jungle setting behind us here, it looks surreal.
If the kids had been present, a shot in front of one of these decorative windows would have definitely graced the cover of our Christmas card. 
I guess one of the benefits of being “free birds” is that we’ve started taking “couples shots” again. I do love having these special images to remember this wonderful trip, however, had I known of the prominent color scheme I would not have worn the charcoal and white combo.  
Instead, if you go, I recommend wearing something more in the blue and green color scheme, like Mr. Splendid, doesn’t he blend in beautifully with the setting? 
That guy.
YSL was cremated and his ashes were spread in the rose garden in Villa Oasis, where they lived.
There is a memorial to the designer at the far edge of the property, it was designed around a stone Roman pillar from Tangier.

If you’d like more information on this amazing garden and a passionate life well lived, you may enjoy some of the following books:
The Private World of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé

The Big Sale is on!!

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We’re having a big sale on all of the merchandise at Splendid Market Shop, so hop over to save big on all polished horn jewelry, suede shawls and clutchlets. The timing couldn’t be better because these chic accessories are ideal for resort ware and any spring travel plans. 
As a special offer to our regular readers we have a free gift for you if you visit Splendid Market Shop to review the sale or help to promote it. To get your free gift just leave a comment about what you have bought or would like to purchase or information on how you have shared the sale information and we will include a free gift in your shipment (if you don’t end of placing an order just send your mailing address to ebh@splendidmarket.com after leaving your comment). 

Yves Saint Laurent at the Seattle Art Museum…

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So this is how it begins… the incredible display of Yves {Mathieu} Saint Laurent’s works at the Seattle Art Museum.  This extensive collection closes on January 8, so if you haven’t visited it yet, I highly recommend you find a way to come to see it soon. But, if that is not a possibility, I will share the highlights here and now, also click on #SAMYSL for a fabulous illustrated interview with the designer. 
The display chronicles his life and love of fashion beginning with his childhood hand painted signs for his “shows” of paper dolls wearing his fashions that he put on for his sisters and childhood friends, along with the glamorous paper dolls and fashions.
One of my favorite feature was the addition of the original sketches of the enormous number of collections with fabric swatches around the perimeter of the rooms,
with the coordinating pieces on display in the center of the room. Here is the iconic Mondrian dress.
Here is his colorful Wedding Coatdress… 
and snips of all the fabrics used to create the intricate masterpiece. 

The inclusion of many of his drawings and sketches really enhanced the exhibit and showed insight into this great designer. Here are some of his sketches for the bottle design for his Opium perfume, scandalously launched in 1977. I’ve always loved Opium perfume, it is such a rich balance of fruits and spices with strong notes of Jasmine and Sandlewood. 

There are also great images of him through the years, I love this shot with his Meuse and “female twin” Betty Catroux, she’s wearing the sexy safari tunic shown on the mannequin in the foreground.

And here he is with delightful Jane Berkin wearing the lace up trousers from the same collection, those were the days.

Now I’ll leave you to wander around and enjoy the breadth and brilliance of this talented designer at your own pace. 
 Enjoy…
Yves Saint Laurent Costume Jewelry #SAMYSL

Yves Saint Laurent, 1974, Andy Warhol

Christmas dinner…

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I hope you had a very splendid holiday season with your friends and family. 
After a fun and furiously festive few weeks I really loved having a day at home with the family for gifts, way too much food and then a small, quiet dinner. 
For dinner I made Broiled Lobster Tail {for the first time} {so easy and elegant}; a salad of grapefruit sections, avocado, celery and a white truffle risotto. 
Now we’re cuddled up, watching Pride and Prejudice and I’m nursing a cold.
 I hope you had a very Merry Christmas or are having a happy, Happy Hanukkah

with plenty of friends and family, beauty and delicious foods.
XO,

Gifts for the guys in your life…

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Finally, here is an assortment of splendid gifts for the men you love.
Gifts for the guys in your life...
a. The Filson Tablet Briefcase in Navy, just the thing for the rugged businessman in your life. 
b. All things vintage and authentic for the sports enthusiast can be found at Ebbet’s including this New York Knights Grounds crew Jacket. 
c. With this collection of Jack Black face & body products he will be the best groomed guy on the block. 
d. This Barbour Tweed toiletries kit  will become a treasured staple in the traveling mans luggage kit. 
e. Why not indulge him with these luscious cashmere socks? You only live once, after all. 
f. Stoke those primitive instincts with this heavy duty Bison Airlighter.

g. YETI coolers are the gold standard of coolers, your favorite ourdoorsman will love this!

h. For your gentleman’s sleeping pleasure, these beautiful Mercerised Cotton Pajamas’s will get softer and more comfortable with each wash. 

i. There is a mancrate for every special guy on your list, what would he like to do? There’s a kit for gin infusions, hot sauce making, pipe carving, knife making, making bacon, tacos, and bass whispering to name a few. 
j. Our family Christmas pajamas are made of this Portuguese flannel, every year they grow softer and thicker. I can’t think of anything cozier than this Blackwatch Plaid Portuguese flannel robe for your creature who loves a little comfort. 
I hope this helps, I am still clicking in the orders and hoping it will all arrive on time, how about you??