“Marrakesh is simply the nicest place on earth to spend an afternoon,” Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain during World War II once said.
Churchill, an avid painter, was so fond of the place that his only painting during World War II was a view of Marrakech, which he painted following the Casablanca Conference in 1943.
After visiting Marrakesh this past winter, I have to agree with Churchill. Marrakesh is an artists delight, despite the commercialization of the city more than 70 years after the Casablanca Conference.
Anyone with an interest in design or architecture needs to spend a few days relaxing in a Riad near the Medina (market center). Riads– traditional Moroccan houses with an interior patio or courtyard– are at the epicenter of Moroccan life and are a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the Medina.
Alex and I stayed at the same Riad that Churchill once stayed at (pictured below).
Just kidding! Unfortunately, our budget was more in lines for Airbnb than any of the super fancy Riads like the one David Beckham recently rented for his 40th birthday.
We stayed at Riad Helen, a riad run by two gracious French expats. Riad Helen had the loveliest decorations and felt like luxury.
Our recommendations on what to do when staying in a Riad:
- Lounge around sipping fresh Moroccan mint tea.
- Learn how to pour Moroccan mint tea. (Ask your Riad host to show you!)
- Enjoy a traditional meal prepared by your Riad’s chef.
- De-stress and relax!
And for those WWII history buffs that may be curious, below are samples of paintings by Churchill of Marrakesh (these now command up to $1M at auction!)
