#lamaisonarabe

1/27

We settled in to our apartments and threw together dinner plans before we all passed out from jet lag. Delirious and unsure of our surroundings, we didn’t know how to catch a cab yet especially for a large group, but the perfect scenario happened. The remotes who went on the Amsterdam deviation (RY offers deviations to different cities between destinations, so the people who go on those trips have different arrival itineraries) had just arrived from the airport as the dinner crew congregated outside the apartments, so I asked the driver “can you take us to dinner?” He agreed and we piled in, it worked out perfect!

We pulled up to our destination, La Maison Arabe. It’s a hotel on the fancier side, so we went swanky our first meal out. OMG I was immediately in awe. Getting out of the car and walking down a narrow, cobblestone street, I felt like I was in Europe and it was the best feeling. There’s something about those old narrow streets that are so indicative of travel, I think because they feel so not America, accentuating my curiosity about a new place. As we walked through the hotel to the restaurant I was a kid in a candy store-- my first Moroccan courtyard!!! Soft lighting peaking through ornate lanterns, geometric patterns on every surface, cushions and rugs and plants, I was transported into a dreamlike state and couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping. It was everything I’d imagined about the spaces of Marrakech and more. I was filled with absolute delight, wonder, and excitement to be here.

Dinner was divine. My first Moroccan tajine (and still the best of the trip) was an explosion of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flavor, the chicken literally melting in my mouth. Live music, mint tea, gorgeous table setting, romantic ambiance... it was the perfect introduction to our lives for the next few weeks. I wished so bad to be here with Russell, a dream date spot. I went to sleep that night with a full belly, tired body, and enchanted mind.