Bird in the Courtyard

 

This little bird was a frequent visitor to the courtyard of our riad, chirruping cheerfully and hoovering up the crumbs from breakfast from the tiled floor.

 

Rashida, our housekeeper, apologised for the dawn chorus provided by the birds, who liked to roost in the trees and shrubs growing in the shelter of the courtyard walls, beside the pool and fountain. I am used to birdsong at home and enjoy it: as I said to her, it gives me pleasure.

Jardin Majorelle

A short caleche ride from Jma el Fnaa is the extraordinary gardens created by Jacques Majorelle, which were rescued from decay and lovingly restored by Yves St Laurent. Trees provide shade from the heat of the day and high perimeter walls shut out the clamour of the city. It is very different from the English style of garden: there are these wonderful cacti and succulents mulched by gravel, in a bewildering range of shapes, shades and forms.



Then there is that essential ingredient of the Arabesque/Moorish garden: water, in the form of ponds, fountains and rills, the splashing and the condensation adding to the cooling effects of the tree-given shade.



A garden is not a garden without some flowers, and these all featured at Majorelle in October.



Finally, there is another ingredient that makes Majorelle unique in itself: the rich cobalt blue that runs through the garden on painted masonry and woodwork, which has been named after the artist and the garden: Majorelle. This is certainly an oasis I would return to: a little piece of paradise on earth.