Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Laundry





Laundry in Morocco may be picturesque --see the photos by our daughter Claudia Schmid -- but it is also boring and time consuming.


Since we don't have a washing machine I have a trusty blue bucket instead, and a wooden paddle to stir things with. I soak things in the bucket, scrub the grubby bits, rinse things a lot – since the water is so full of minerals it’s hard to get the scum out, then wring the wretched things by hand and carry them up two long flights of stairs. Dryers exist here, but most people, like us, merely haul everything up to the roof. To be honest, I don’t attempt loads of sheets – we take them to the laundry proper.





Pegs seem to be considered rather a frill -- how much easier it is to just throw things on the wall, where everything, including blue jeans, dries almost at once.


Of course, sometimes things float off into one's neighbor's courtyard and they may or may not reappear.



All in all, washing machines are very good inventions.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Studio







Robert's studio on the second floor. You can see the very traditional, hand painted doors and the old tiles. The chair was made just a few hundred yards up the street.
The painting on the wall is of people walking across Djemma Elfna.
The railing goes round the courtyard and the little plant struggles in the heat.



Sunday, February 28, 2010

Blue Wall in the Jardin Majorelle




The light casts wonderful shadows on the wall of the blue-painted villa.
For lots more pictures and details of this magic garden go here .

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Donkeys




The donkey waits patiently in the derb. He will eat anything given the chance. His harness made up of all sorts of things.
When I asked what the donkey's name was I was told just donkey --not Neddy or Fleur or anything - because he has a job rather than being a pet.
Robert made a full size painting of a donkey we saw in Djemma Elfna.


Sunday, February 14, 2010

Fountain in Derb Djedid


Fountain in Derb Djedid, originally uploaded by schmidwix2.

This little fountain in the courtyard is always decorated with flowers.
The ivy climbs well and clings on to the tadelakt.
Above the fountain is a Berber tent peg that Ira gave us.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Three Generations


Three Generations, originally uploaded by schmidwix2.

Taken on rue riad zitoune
djedid. One of the more charming back streets where I walked almost every day on my way to the fruit market. 

The old men are watching the world go by.

The young man is working, and the little boy is in a great hurry.

Anyone interested in everyday life in Marrakesh should scroll around on the blog and even go back in time.

My friend Maryam has a much more wonderful, glamorous and exciting Marrakech blog here



Saturday, December 12, 2009

A Winter Evening


IMG_0172.JPG, originally uploaded by schmidwix2.

Such crowds hurrying home.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Black Door


Black Door, originally uploaded by schmidwix2.

A door into a house we miss terribly.
We are now back in New York.


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Summer at the Beach

We are no longer in Marrakesh.




The beach at Essouira where I wish I was right now.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Country Road




This  school boy  was running beside the car on an unpaved road
near a friend's farm about half an hour outside Marrakesh towards
the Atlas Mountains. How lush the landscape is.