Cycling and Cuisine
Rolando Stein
It was my second time in Marrakech. So many things have changed but the hospitality of the people, the souk, the smells, the food, the night life and the landscape have no equal. But this time I was going to mix the good life with my other passion........cycling.
Our man ‘Samir’ was waiting at the airport to take us to our riad in the middle of the Medina. He updated us on the gossip: apparently the King and a European president with wife are in town. We walk 5 minutes before we reach our peaceful riad. Despite being in the heart of the Medina, no sound can be heard from the outside. We have a full moon and all looks magical. Radija (our cook) has prepared a delicious meal, the first of many banquets.
While the family goes out shopping in the souk, I get down to the serious business of cycling with my friend Oliver. It gives me a rush of excitement and a sense of freedom to be pedalling through the souk’s narrow streets (.......both of us wearing our full lycra kit: I know, my children think it is sad as well) until we reach the road towards Barrage de Lalla Takerkoust, a lake near the foothills of the Atlas mountains. It is only 40 minutes by car but it takes us 2 and a half hours to get there by bike. Our families are waiting for us, I grab a quick shower before we sit down for lunch, the view of the mountains with snow peaks is breathtaking.
By the time we are back in the medina and are showered and dressed, the nightlife is already kicking off. We go to “Palais Jad Mahal” for dinner (reservation is a must). We are eating delicious food when suddenly we are interrupted with the view of beautiful Moroccan belly dancers going around the tables, the atmosphere suddenly changes to a frenzy. The music gets louder, people get in the mood to dance and the Palais goes wild. Later on, the belly dancers show up again but this time they are dancing on top of the bar followed by male dancers. The music is hypnotic. Everybody is so relaxed, a mixture of locals and foreigners burning the night away……..a real scene.
The next day we cycle 110 kms through the beautiful Valley of Ourika. Again, the landscape is amazing but this time we head back to the riad in time for lunch. I love my cycling and the country is fantastic for it………but Moroccan food can be addictive also.
