We came to the end of my Moroccan trip, in this issue I'm sharing with you my tips and experiences at the waterfalls and in Marrakech. After leaving Fez, I stopped at a special place for one night. It took me for a while to get to Ouzoud waterfalls, but it was definitely worth the effort.

I passed by authentic, little villages and wonderful panorama while driving to the waterfalls. Nature is changeable and pretty amazing!

There are two ways to access the falls, in both cases you need to climb stairs, you will be walking on shaded path of olive trees, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. It's amazing how the 110 meter waterfalls plunged down from the rocks, this is the tallest falls in North-Africa. I spent one night at the village, so I could observe the natural beauty from different viewpoints. The area is full of monkeys, it's always nice to see animals in the wild.

The accommodation, Kasba Oum Hani d'Ouzoud was the best during my stay in Morocco, very clean, kind of European style with some Moroccan design. I also ordered dinner there in the evening, I never thought, that goat tagine would ever be my favorite. The beautiful sunset at the end of the day was truly a gift.

Even though we call New York, the city, that never sleeps, I pretty much had the same experience in the dazzling, crazy Marrakech. However it all seemed to be like a tourist trap from the first day. In Marrakech tourism is blooming, they profit a lot from it and they are not shy if it comes to prices. When I was lost in the Medina, they charged me a lot to show the way around. People were really helpful, unless you pay double or even triple price than the locals. This is something I never experienced in Fez or at other parts during my stay.

There are the typical sights, that all tourist are eager to visit, so be prepared for crowds everywhere. The first day I was heading to Yves Saint Laurent's house and the museum. Jardin Majorelle is a beautifully maintained garden, like a nice oasis in the middle of the desert, yellow and blue colors are dominating. The designer lived here for a many years, he was very much inspired by the Moroccan lifestyle and traditions. The museum next to his house presents his works from the early ages. It's an impressive collection, worth visiting! Please note, that you are not allowed to take photos and be prepared to queue!

It's highly recommended to visit one of the palaces in the city, just to get a sense of Moroccan architecture. Bahia palace was built in the 19th century, it captures the beauties of Islamic arts with its mosaics, tiles and colors. Bahia means brilliance, the name is already showing it's uniqueness, it definitely has a nice atmosphere. Inside you will see beautiful rooms without furniture, but each room has a different design, a nice garden with fountains. Perfect for a one-hour program!

It's a popular landmark, the mosque might be familiar to you even from postcards. The original building, that used to stand here was not oriented towards Mecca, so it was rebuilt afterwards. The sight of the building is impressive. Next to it the famous main square, Jemaa el-Fnaa is located. During daytime it's occupied by water sellers and traders, in the evening barbecue smoke fills the air, the square transforms into craziness: snake charmers, belly dancers appear, ladies will make henna for you. You will only enjoy this place if you don't mind crowds.

It's a lovely, colorful souk, you can really buy everything here from food to bags, carpets, all kind of goods. Merchants expect a negotiation, so stick to that and never pay the first price offered!

The hostel is located in the heart of the Medina, very close to the main square.  I booked a room with en-suite bathroom, the room was very simple and had no windows. The common areas, like the rooftop and the pool was spacious though and was a perfect spot for relaxation. In Marrakech everything is more pricey than at other places.

While walking in the center, I've found this lovely, brand-new restaurant for a light lunch. I chose vegetarian bourekas, a baked and stuffed pastry filled with vegetables and hinted with sugar. The place was nice and neat, a quiet oasis in the middle of a busy city.

For dinner, I chose a fancy restaurant close to my accommodation. It was nicely designed and alcoholic drinks like a wide selection of wine was available too, which is unique, you can't expect that at all restaurants in Morocco.

I'm closing the Marrakech section with some lovely panorama photos. Roof-topping is something you should definitely try!

On my last day I was driving to Agadir. Before boarding the plane back to Budapest, I had a pleasant walk on the beach. The sea was beautiful but the weather was very windy. All in all I enjoyed my time in Morocco, I visited everything I could during a week. If I ever go back, I'm planning to explore the desert and the blue city, Chefchaouen. For Marrakech inspired FASHION items and HOME DESIGN ideas, visit my page!

Who joins me for exploring the Northern part of Morocco? After a short stop in Rabat, I was traveling to the beautiful Fez, the city, I was so eager to visit, finally my dream came true.

Unfortunately I didn't have so much time, I only stopped for lunch in Rabat, but still I managed to soak up the atmosphere of the place a little bit. First I checked out the beach, although it's not a real beach there, so wild and natural, it had a good atmosphere though.

While walking on the waterfront,  I’ve just found this lovely restaurant, called Marina Bay, I chose seafood for lunch. The place was really peaceful, little boats were passing by. The food was excellent, the location was priceless.

Here comes the best part of my tip, when I discovered Fez and experienced the authentic Morocco. Where else to look for accommodation, if not in a Riad? Riads are typical, traditional houses, that have been lovingly restored into special boutique hotels. The building always has a central element, it can be a garden, a pool, a courtyard -  very relaxing, cool atmosphere, it's like an oasis in the desert to me. Riad Ghita located in the outskirts of the Medina, still very close to the center, Bab Boujloud was a few minutes walk away. They welcomed me with mint tea and cookies, the courtyard was pretty impressive with all those original, fancy decorations.

They served traditional breakfast: pancakes, bread, olives, cheese and eggs. Excellent start of the day!

The rooms were big and clean with traditional charm and beauty, each room has a special design, very old building with history and cool atmosphere. Since it's not inside the Medina, it was quiet in the evening.

Fez used to be the capital of Morocco, today it's an important cultural and spiritual center. I couldn't wait to explore the old city. I heard, it's the largest surviving Medina in the world (UNESCO World Heritage site), it's also easy to get lost, there is no map, that would show all the little, hidden streets in the area. Visiting a Medina is always a cultural experience, you can observe the locals' life, get involved in the mood and smells. I've found some amazing handcrafted gates, it was like stepping back in time.

The main entrance is Bab Boujloud. The original medieval gate was not so richly decorated, how it is nowadays, it also served for protection, today it's an emblematic sight of the city.

As soon as I arrived to Fez, young boys offered to show me around, we set up the price and the meeting point for the next day. Even if you might find this risky, don't be afraid, they know the city and they will take you to unique places. This is how I was exploring the old Jewish street, the ceramic factory, the tannery and a nice restaurant.

You will see traditional ceramics everywhere in Fez, no matter where you go: mosaics, fountains, tagine pots etc.The ceramic facility shows porcelain how you've never seen it before: in the factory you can follow the work routine from scratch, guides will take you through the production from raw material to finished product, in the end you can also buy ceramic works or you can simply order them. Hand-crafted pieces, exceptional beauties, traditional items, I'm so fond of this stuff!

Tannery industry in Morocco looks today just how it used to be in the early centuries, it doesn't involve any modern machinery. it's interesting to watch the workers and follow their routine. You will get a bunch of mint in order to not to smell the unbearable stink. However I expected something worse, it stinks but it was ok for me. The leather shop behind the factory offered a wide selection of products, I fall in love with this blue jacket, that will always remind me my lovely Fez. 

The guide took me to a place, where an old lady was making argan oil in a traditional way. The shop also offered spices and it was hidden inside the Medina, I'm not sure I would find the place by myself again. Argan oil is made of the argan tree fruit and it's exclusively grown in Morocco. The acids inside are beneficial for hair and skin. It definitely ads some shine to my dry hair, so I gladly bought a small portion.

In the evening I was ready for a nice dinner. My guide took me to a place called Palais des Merinides in the old town, it didn't look anything special from outside, but it looked like a real palace inside with all these fabulous ceilings and arty decorations. Even though it looked like a touristic trap, I didn't mind, I loved the atmosphere and food was yummy, a bit pricey though, but you better get used to that in this country. Tourists always pay more than locals.

After dinner it was time for a last drink, so I went to this luxurious Riad Fes before saying Good-bye to the city.

That was Fez and my few days in this imperial city, I hope to return one day. I'm saying Good-bye to you with this fabulous night shot. For Fez inspired FASHION and INTERIOR DESIGN tips follow the links!