It's oh so quiet

Working in London today... I was was in the centre and it's a huge city so no one here but us tourists.

I stole a brief photo opportunity while en route to Waterloo train station.

Popping our Brighton cherry

We're driving back home after a fleeting visit to Brighton to help a good friend transition to the ripe age of 40. What a weekend! The celebrating kicked off over lunch on Saturday. Obviously beer and other intoxicating beverages were involved from the start (we are Brits after all!), but it was all very civilized.

We finally ended up in the Brighton Komedia. Now comedy isn't normally my thing, but by the end of the evening my belly ached from laughing so much. All I can say is hats off to:

• Erich McElvoy for his highbrow wisecracks. An American who understands irony and can take the piss like a native is a fine thing to behold.
• Miss Ninia Benjamin, well she delivered lowbrow naughtiness and playful filth as an educational service. All I say, without making you blush, is that pineapple juice and strawberry daiquiris have acquired a whole new meaning for me now!

Back to Brighton.

It's not really possible to explore a new city when you're in a large group with a fixed agenda so Brighton remains undiscovered. Maybe I should have titled this post "comedy cherry". Didn't have the same ring though.

We glimpsed enough to suggest that Brighton is a city worthy of a closer look. So cheers for a fun weekend, we'll be back to wander your streets again sometime.

A long weekend in the Red City

Before I went to Marrakech (مراكش) I was told "you'll either love it or hate it". Bit like Marmite then! They weren't lying either.

It's a beautiful, dusty labyrinth full of faded splendour and hidden gems around every corner, but it's the people there that make the city what it is. Which is intense, extreme, and a full-on assault to the senses. Usually that goes one way or the other, Marrakech, though was a heady mix of the two which leaves me with mixed feelings about the city.

I had started to write this post a few days after getting home on the 26th April. Unfortunately I fear that recent events on the 28th April in Djemaa el Fna mean that things will not be as they were for quite some time. Instead, I'll just share some of the highlights of our trip by posting way too many photos! So apologies in advance for the long post.

The beautiful oasis of Riad Dar el Souk that was our base for the 3 nights that we spent in the city.




Our room and en suite.






Lots of places to curl up and relax.


Unfortunately the weather wasn't hot enough to warrant the plunge pool. Maybe next time!

So the city... we went to the new parts first starting of with the Jardin Majorelle - حديقة ماجوريل‎ (aka Yves Saint Laurent Gardens).


A little piece of utter tranquility (aside from all the other tourists). And that blue - shame it won't work in a UK climate!

Then returned to the Medina inside the old city walls.


The Koutoubia Mosque


Place Djemaâ el Fna at dusk


The food stalls in Djemaa el Fna...


... where we found merguez sausage served hot off the grill




Exploring, also known as getting lost, in the souk. [It's not that quiet. More like heaving!]


Selling cakes in the souk, Moroccan style.


The view through the doorway of a Moroccan herbalist.


Goodies in the Spice Souk. I could cook up a feast with this lot!


Skeins of wool in the Dyers Souk


Looking down on the Tin Souk from the Kosybar.


Tiles in the Saadian Tombs.


Leaving the Bahia Palace.

Other things that caught my eye.








That blue again...





Pimp my ride!






And pimp my doors