Marrakech Retreat – Day 5 – Shop, Spa & Jemma el Fna!
Hello my friends!
After the first four days of activities, including an historic tour of Marrakech, a day trip to Essaouira and a Moroccan cooking class, our guests had a FREE day to explore Marrakech to their individual heart’s desire.
With morning yoga and a delicious breakfast behind them, our guests got together in groups of two and three to plan the day. Their desires were to shop in the huge Marrakech souk, relax with a Moroccan spa treatment, stroll Yves St. Laurent’s Jardin Marjorelle, take a horse carriage ride around the city, visit other beautiful hotels and eat once again in Jemma el Fna, the famous square with loads of food stalls. Off everyone went in different directions!
The souk (outdoor marketplace) in Marrakech is known all over the world for it’s amazing wares including all kinds of Moroccan décor, lamps, handmade furniture, poufs, pottery, woodwork, candles, colorful bottles, tassels, tea sets, stemware, fabric, tile, mirrors, and rugs. In my book, Feng Shui Your Life, I have so many colorful pictures of interiors and I definitely want to add more Moroccan decor elements in a future book.
There are colorful clothes, Moroccan slippers, textile, handbags, antique jewelry, spices, dried fruits, pastries, Moroccan olives, and anything else you can imagine. I discussed the feng shui of travel mementos so everyone would be purposeful in choosing items that would not only bring them joy but also remind them of what they want to manifest in their life!
The souk is a feast for the eyes and pocketbook! Our guests were thrilled that my Moroccan husband haggled on their behalf, saving them hundreds of dollars! Here’s a video of one of our retreat participants talking about the souk and shopping in Marrakech.
In the afternoon, many of us indulged in a traditional Moroccan spa treatment in a Hammam. A hammam is a wet room where you get a scrub, a mask with seven plants, a foot bath with flower petals and a foot massage. After a day in the souk, a hammam treatment along with a massage is pure bliss! Below is a picture of the entrance to the spa at La Mamounia Hotel.
During the week in Marrakech, we found ourselves moving between three beautiful spas including Les Bains de L’alhambra, Hammam de la Rose (2 minutes walk from our Riad), and the stunning La Mamounia Hotel, voted one of the best in the world!
For dinner, many of us opted to hit Jemma el Fna again to feast on delicious fish, french fries, eggplant, Harira soup and Moroccan sausages. The spice tea is always good for digestion and so delicious after a meal in the square.
In my next post, I’ll share about our incredible 6th day heading into the Atlas Mountains to Ourika Valley where we hike up to a beautiful waterfall, eat lunch and I teach a feng shui class in a Berber village.
Sending positive energy your way,
P.S. To see the activities for each day of our Magical Marrakech Retreat, click below!
Day 1 & 2 – Yoga, Cultural Tour of Old Marrakech and Palaces
Day 3 – Day trip to the coastal town of Essaouira
Day 4 – Moroccan Cooking Class
Day 5 – Shopping and Spa’ing in the Souk
Day 6 – Hiking, Tagine & Feng Shui in a Berber village in the Atlas Mountains
Day 7 & 8 – Manifestation, Gratitude & Wrap-up!
Hi Jayme,
We are friends of Joan & Bob. We visited Morrocco about 15 yrs ago, and your blogs are bringing back memories of one of our most memorable trips! Your experiences sound amazing. Thank you for sharing.
I know Joan & Bob are still on cloud nine!
Joyce
Hi Joyce,
So glad that my blog posts are bringing back good memories! Perhaps it’s time to visit again 15 years later? Joan fell in love with Morocco and mentioned she’d love to go back to visit other cities in the North. Check out Day 6 blog post and you’ll see a picture of Joan and Bob at the waterfall as well as a video from Joan about her experience! 🙂