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The Oasis

I have to tell you, I fell utterly in love with The Four Seasons.

I really didn’t expect to like it much after the beauty of Mamounia… but it really stole my heart.

While Mamounia was beautiful (I mean seriously, one of the most opulent places I’ve visited), the staff were a little bit… off. It was my chap who picked up on it. It drove him nuts that I would ask a question and be practically ignored, but if he asked, they would bow and rush around… nothing was too much trouble, unless it was a woman asking.

The maids would flatten themselves against the walls when we walked by and look in utter terror if we wished them good-day. It felt a lot like being Henry VIII, and really a little uncomfortable.

A number of guests grumbled about the same issues. We just put the whole thing down to cultural differences and ignored it, but the change at Four Seasons was like night & day.

Cheery, relaxed, bubbly staff joke with you and help with anything you like. They’re happy to chat about Marrakech and feed you ice-creams at regular intervals, or just leave you well alone to snooze in the sun.

I went from being ignored to feeling genuinely welcome.

And very, very relaxed.

Rather than a continental buffet, I had Moroccan eggs most mornings.

A lot like my Dip ‘n’ Share recipe, they’re eggs baked in a tomato/meat sauce with herbs & spices.

But he capitalised on being able to have eggs Benedict every day!

There are two pools at the hotel.

An adults only one, where they play music and there’s a bar.

And a family pool, which was twice the size, utterly deserted, had an ice cream bar and inflatables.

I think you know exactly where I spent my days.

The pool is lined with the most beautiful grey/green stone.

It feels as though you could be swimming through a natural pool or mountain river.

Birds flit between the trees, twittering as they go, cicadas sing and bright red dragonflies zip around you as you bob in the cool waters.

^ I really hope you appreciate this picture.

It took some considerable stalking. I crept through the water like a crocodile, with my camera held aloft and my tongue sticking out in concentration… about 12 times, before one finally let me snap it.

In fact I really think you should go back up and look at it again.

Look at the detail in the wings! The way the glitter in the sun, and the cheeky grin on its’ face.

Wildlife photographer of the year, here I come!

Though grace/stealth may not be a strong point…

Chocolate, raspberry, vanilla, pistachio sprinkles.

Happy camper.

Mojitos help too, of course.

But not with balance, weirdly enough.

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Underwater phone case, for professional mermaid/merman use only.

Having cooled down in the oasis, it was high time for a little more madness.

Tomorrow I’m going to take you on a trip through the souk… it’s my favourite of the Morocco posts, so I hope you’ll enjoy it too!

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