Day 6 - Marrakech, Morocco - Four Seasons Resort


I have stayed in some pretty swanky suites in my time ... but this one is quiet special.


Up early and a "meet and greet", "drive up" with the resort General Manager Jean Claude Wietzel ...


Then while the boys filmed the resort, I headed to the spa for a treatment or two ... 


There are 141 guestrooms including 27 suites set over 16 hectares of land ... it opened in June 2011 ... in fact, tomorrow is the resort's FIRST birthday! Champagne all round ...


There's a Spa, many restaurants and bars, a Kid's Club and tennis courts/running track ...


I am in The Royal Villa. It has FOUR bedrooms (all for me). There's a study, mini-cinema, dining room, pantry and courtyard.


I also have a 17 metres swimming pool ... SEVENTEEN METRES!!!!


Also barbecue area and outdoor jacuzzi!


I COULD LIVE HERE!!! In fact, I am off for a swim before dinner ...

Yes, I do occasionally do some work!

My welcome amenity was: cigars, whisky and a new bone & collar for Moo!

Hello Royal Villa!

With JC ... 

Day 5 - Marrakesh, Morocco - La Mamounia and The Four Seasons


Well, greetings from The Four Seasons, Marrakech!


We checked out of La Mamounia today ... I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. Didier - the GM - is a legend and the hotel now compared to what it was in 2006 is just amazing! I had a very happy and contented stay at the "grande dame" of Marrakesh ...


This morning I visited one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. The Jardin Majorelle        was founded by the great French painter in the 1930's ... he filled it with amazing plants and fountains ... & a workshop which was painted in his famous cobalt blue ... "Majorelle Bleu". In 1980 ... the great Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge bought the park (which was in disrepair) and dedicated their lives restoring it ...


When YSL passed away in 2008 ... his ashes were spread around the garden ... I LOVE this garden ... it's simply beautiful.


From there we headed to Dar si Said ... the oldest museum in the city.


The museum was once the home of the si Said family ... he was the Minister of War from 1894 to 1900. When Morocco was a French protectorate ... the government sent archaeologists around the country to source antiques - weapons, doors, carpets ... and filled the museum. It opened in 1932 ...


So - am now at the Four Seasons, Marrakech ... in a quite superb suite ... more tomorrow ...

With Quito Fierro - the DG of the Garden

a 10th century marble ablusion

a FABULOUS room at Dar si Said

Day 4 - Marrakesh, Morocco - La Mamounia


It's been a VERY strange day for me ...


Usually we are up & out filming early in the day... but for the first time in my memory, I did not actually stand in front of camera on a "filming day".


We were meant to be hot air ballooning BUT due to adverse conditions, this was cancelled  ... and the boys are filming the city this afternoon ... so ... what is a man (me'ish) to do?


Well, thankfully, I was invited for a two hour spa treatment (the Royal) that was quite special ... one hour of hamam - exfoliation, black soap, olive oil rubs ... steam room ... and a one hour massage after that where I was rubbed with argan & rose cream! I smell like the perfume counter at Harvey Nichols!


I then had a fabulous lunch with General Manager Didier Picquot ... at L'Italien by Don Alfonso ... the multi-award winning chef from the Amalfi Coast has a restaurant here at La Mamounia. The lunch was delicious, the company fabulous AND the wine was superb ... a Domaine de Trevallon 2008 (my favourite).


Foreign wine here is VERY expensive ... think one bottle in Paris is Euros 20 ... the same bottle would be 200 Euros here! Tax ...!


I WILL be filming tomorrow!!

An empty bottle of Trevallon ... and cigar!

Didier ... 

Day 3 - Marrakesh, Morocco - La Mamounia


I have just watched the sun set from my balcony ... with a cigar and a bottle of champagne ... almost heaven ...


It's been hotel filming day ... and it's been a good one.


I was first here at La Mamounia many moons ago ... pre-2006 when the hotel was closed for a major 3-year refurbishment. I remember it well ... it was good but not great ... now it's great!


La Mamounia was first opened as a hotel in 1923 ... and over the years it really has attracted the most famous people in the world - film stars, politicians and royalty ...


In 2006 the hotel was redesigned by Jacques Garcia - who is a renowned interior designer. He employed 1500 artisans and craftsmen to recreate La Mamounia in a 1920's-style but with contemporary twists ...


First up I interviewed the legendary GM - Didier Picquot ... out in the gardens ... it's obvious he thoroughly loves the hotel and Marrakesh. The hotel is set behind pink cement walls ... has 17 acres of lush gardens ... a fabulous spa, restaurants and bars.


Then my suite ... Majorelle ... named after a 19th century French painter (Jacques) who designed the famous Gardens (more on that later in the week) and the man behind the "Majorelle Blue" ... his colour ... which is prevalent in the suite and the hotel ...


So - I have a 2-bedroom, 114 m2 suite ... complete with zellege mosaics, tadelakt walls (eggs & black soap) ... large beds ... a hamam-style marble bathroom ... amazing comfy plush furniture ... and views of the pool, gardens and the Atlas Mountains ...


DELICIOUS ...


I am staying in again tonight ... I think the boys are out having fun in the city!

All the doors and ceilings in my suite are made of cedar wood ... and were hand-painted.

With Didier

Comfy bed :)

Monsieur Majorelle ...

Sunset ...

Day 2 - Marrakesh, Morocco - La Mamounia


Helen Keller once wrote "Life is either a great adventure ... or nothing". Today I conquered a fear ... well two fears ... abseiling ... and abseiling through a waterfall ...


My memories of La Mamounia are many but one that sticks out is the birds twittering at sunrise. This morning was lovely - a warm sunrise, birds twittering and a wee (fine) champagne headache! Ha!


So - after breakfast, we headed to the soon-to-be-officially opened Assoufid Golf Course ... 20 minutes drive from the hotel. I played a few holes with the Director of Golf, Guy Maxwell. There has been golf in Marrakesh since the 1920's ... now there are 7 courses that are of professional standard in the city ... plus others in the country that even host PGAs ...


I wasn't on fire today BUT I did get my par-3's!


From there we zipped off to the Ourika Valley to meet with Andy Robertson from Splash Adventure Activities. He took me canyoning and abseiling down slippery, watery rock faces. I was scared witless ...


It is VERY safe ... but my hands are all torn up as I tried to abseil like a pro rather than the amateur that I am! It was fun ... but ... I will definitely wait a while before I try again!

With Guy

With Andy

The fall ... 25 metres ... 

Don't ask ... 

Day 1 - Marrakesh, Morocco - La Mamounia


Greetings from Marrakesh.


I fly a lot ... and today something happened that has not before. I dropped off to sleep almost immediately we left London Gatwick. I awoke after about an hour not knowing where I was ...


I had just had a terrible dream that the airplane crashed and I had not got the chance to tell the people I love just how much I love them. I had tears in my eyes when I awoke ... and I think the lady next to me thought I was ... odd ...


Hmm ... anyway ... I am here ... or should I say I am back ... at La Mamounia ... just a 10 minute drive from the airport. The flight was just over 3 hours in length ... memorable though for all the wrong reasons.


I have checked into a lovely signature suite overlooking the gardens and pool ... two bedrooms ... so ornate and just so beautiful ... I never have I felt so alone.


I am off for a swim with Jack then dinner with Tim ... have an early start tomorrow.

 The pool at La Mamounia is legendary ...

Calm before a storm ...

According to Jack, no-one reads blogs, Tweets or uses Facebook at the weekend, ESPECIALLY on a Saturday!


Well, today I am staying with my Papa ... as tomorrow it's a relatively early start to Morocco.


A dear friend messaged me the other day to say she could not remember anything good about Marrakesh. Well, I am going to prove her wrong!


I was last there in 2006 ... and I remember having a great deal of "unexpected" fun ... so, here's hoping for more of the same.

 I wonder if there are hamams in Marrakech

Or camels in Marrakesh ...


Is it Marrakech or Marrakesh ... or both?

I have no issues spending time with myself.


I travel by myself (a good book & music helps), I often eat by myself in restaurants (a good book helps), I go for long walks by myself - sandy beaches preferably (music helps), I go to concerts by myself (alcohol helps), I wake up by myself (music helps) and - like last night - I often go to the cinema by myself! It has to be said though, that I REALLY wish I hadn't gone to the cinema by myself ...


The original "Alien" movie tag was "in space no-one can hear you scream" ... for "Prometheus" it should have been "be with friends to ask them what the hell is going on ... and maybe hold your hand when the blood runs". Charlize Theron made the movie for me (!) ... the rest was quite disappointing! I should have taken a book ...


I have just reread "Down to a Soundless Sea" by Thomas Steinbeck (son of John) ... a truly wonderful tome.


Back from the airport ... but I am there - albeit Gatwick - on Sunday for a filming trip to Marrakesh! The two hotels are confirmed - La Mamounia ... and The Four Seasons ... quite different ... and we have a whole bunch of features planned ... some of which may "take my breath away" ... whatever that means!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!

At The Fullerton in Singapore ... I had my own elevator/lift with my own armchair ... how cool was that?!

Why am I staying at an airport tonight? I am certainly not flying anywhere today ...!


The reason why are ... meetings!


Yes - I am one of those people who you see driving around in a Ford Mondeo (not exactly), meeting at budget motorway hotels (not exactly), selling bath-taps (not exactly). All of the people I need to meet have to fly through airports and as it happens, all THREE of them are doing so at Heathrow today ... so this seems to be the best place for me to be!


Airport hotels are mighty lonely places though ...


Saying that, the one in Johannesburg that I stayed in with the boys last week was rather nice ... excellent cuisine and I could smoke a large cigar in my suite!


I have just had a cunning plan ... will tell all tomorrow ...


By the way - there are hurricane winds a-blowing outside ... yuk ...

Where I would like to be right now. Care to join me?

"Kill or be killed" ... that statement basically sums up my day!

It's 6.30 pm and I have a large glass of single malt in front of me ... did I ever mention that I have 103 different bottles to choose from? This evenings is a 36-year Tullibardine ... very rare, very smooth, very strong ... and very welcome!

Watching Venus speed across the sun was a FABULOUS way to start the day!

I went into the first meeting of the day with an agenda that had been changed precisely five minutes before it started! While the appointment ultimately went okay, I hate being on the back-foot ...

The rest of the day was filled with unpleasant surprises ... hopefully tomorrow will be the ying of today's yang ...

After this whisky I am going to "blow my mind" ... (but not literally) ... 

 Whisky drinking archive 1

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7

"When a door closes ... a window opens ... so is life ..."


Only one symptom left of my "Jubilee illness" ... a throat like a cheese-grater. I have been quite quiet today. And before you ask, I have not touched a cigar in over 2 weeks!


It rained ALL day which was quite disappointing BUT it is a minimum of 30 degrees in Marrakesh ... so this weekend will be the start of a good week!


I was sent the photograph below from Africa today ... it's lovely ... a fabulous memory ...


Life goes on ...

Choice 1: watch the Jubilee concert
Choice 2: watch Springwatch and the life & times of worms ...


Choice 2 it is ... my highlight has already played on Choice 1 ... Grace Jones ... legend ... nutter ... comedienne ...


It's a public holiday today ... and there's one tomorrow too! No work is being done here in the UK ... except in my bed where I have been beavering away with ... ideas. Yes, I have been a veritable idea factory! Watch this space ...

Only one person will understand tonight's photo (taken in South Africa) ...

I am NOT a fan of ANY royal family ... I think the whole concept of "royalty" is totally & utterly ridiculous and absurd.


Whether I like it or not, the monarchy in the UK is here to stay and if I had to single out one member who actually deserves our respect, it is the Queen. She cannot be blamed for the behaviour of her family ... and she takes & gives in equal measure.


So if you & I had worked for the same company for 60 years, we would get a pat on the back and a carriage clock ... she has been gifted a big day (or 4) out!


She recently visited one of my favourite places in the whole world - Skibo Castle in Scotland.


I have never had a better service experience than that at Skibo ... and Skibo has THE greatest indoor swimming pool (amazing) I have ever dipped in and a golf course I dream about.


It is run by my very dear friend Peter Crome who has just become a movie star.


The new Ken Loach film - The Angel's Share - is all about single malt whisky and if you head to the trailer .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhQeWhqs1bA .... and freeze on time-code 1'13" you will see Peter ...! Oscar glory beckons ...


Am feeling better ... have two more days of this extra long weekend and am hoping to get out tomorrow!

The Queen visits Skibo Castle ...   

Have you ever done something completely by mistake ... and just sat back and thought "wow"?


I am still unwell ... but I did pop out for lunch with friends today which I am sure did not help BUT it was so lovely to see them ... on this "Jubilee" weekend!


So - I have grown a real attachment to my 10 foot sofa ... I honestly believe it IS the most comfortable sofa in the world ... and believe it or not, I have slept on many ... especially in hotels where the beds give me ... erm ... worry.


Anyway, a few weeks ago, one of us (i.e. Tim, Jack) were talking about films, illusions etc and it was suggested that I watch "The Illusionist" ... so I went onto Sky+ (TIVO) found it and settled down to watch it with a nice mug of sweet tea and my favourite cat.


I was expecting to see Edward Norton and Jessica Biel ... instead I got a French/Scottish cartoon. I thought, well what's the harm in watching the first five minutes ... and I was totally smitten.



This cartoon made me laugh ... think ... and actually cry (yes, REAL tears)!


It was written by the great French comic Jacques Tati in the 1950's (?) and was turned into a feature-length cartoon ... set in Paris, London, Edinburgh ... and the Islands ... and was released in 2010.


The name of the film has two meanings BUT you have to watch it to understand what they are ... one obvious and one not so ...


"The Illusionist" is a TRUE gem and undoubtedly in my all time Top 10 ...


Back to the sofa, back to the drugs, back to sleep ...


"Magicians DO exist" ...