travel throwback

A moroccan memory picture from exactly 3 years ago popped up on my iPhone this morning.

Upon seeing those images, it sometimes feels surreal that it once felt so 'natural' to travel.

Yet I booked my flight to Marrakech for october a few weeks ago.

If all goes well, we will start the Marvelous Marrakech retreat in October, with the group of 13 women that was supposed to come and join us in October last year.

We are positive and keep our fingers crossed, by then everyone will have been vaccinated and traveling will be possible again.

October 2019 I was in Marrakech for the last time and I miss the Red City, the atmosphere, the food and lovely people.

Tomorrow I'm going to stay a few nights at my friend Ank (owner of hotel Chambres d'Amis) in Amsterdam and we will put together a new Marvelous Marrakech program. I am SO looking forward to new adventures!

how i miss the freedom to travel

How I miss the freedom to travel.

After staying at home for weeks now, I barely know what day it is anymore.

Besides going to my work in the market at Villa Augustus and visiting my children, days are filled with doing things in and around the house.
We feel blessed to have a garden since the quarantine started, and can spend our spare time outside during the most lovely sunny spring weather April brought us.

Yesterday we would have returned home from a week's holiday at the coast in northern Morocco. We took it lightly when we had to cancel this trip, because hey, worse things can happen...

I think a lot about traveling these days and how obvious it seemed to plan and book a trip.
All we can do now is 'daydreaming' about trips from the past, last year and trips ahead.

But here we are with at least another #stayhome month to go, so i thought i’d share this happy memory that popped up in my Instagram memories yesterday, bursting of happiness and freedom.

Dear all, stay positive and trust that everything will be okay.

photo: Marrakech - April 2018 - In the middle of the medina with a bouquet of flowers from the local market.

daily life in the medina

Cool Crochet workshop April 2018.

A photo report of our first day in the medina.

After some serious wool shopping, we had lunch on the roof of Maison de la Photographie, with a breathtaking view of the snowy Atlas mountains.

At the end of the afternoon we made palm trees under the palm trees at Le Jardin Secret, a peaceful and spacious garden in the middle of the medina, where time stands still...

in need of sun & adventure?

Last minute deal: Travel workshops in April!

If you are fed up with this endless winter, take your chance and book an unforgettable trip to the sun!
Come and join our adventures in and around Marrakech! ... and if you decide to book one of our workshop in Marrakech in April, you will get a 10% discount.

Below you will find the information about both workshops and in case you have a question, don't hesitate to send me an e-mail.

SPRING GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
arrival: Thursday 19th of April 2018 - leaving: Tuesday 24th of April 2018
(last minute offer € 650,00 per person)
AUTUMN GREEN GARDENS WORKSHOP
arrival: Thursday 11th of October 2018 - leaving: Tuesday 16th of October 2018

In the last few years I've visited quite some stunning gardens and oases in the medina and fell in love with the amazing green gardens of Marrakech. For those out there, who can't or rather don't want to crochet, we will arrange an opportunity to discover Marrakech in an alternative way. It's a great way to explore Marrakech and surroundings in a very authentic atmosphere!

PROGRAMME:

During the workshop we will visit and explore all kinds of gardens in and around Marrakech; An Arabic garden, a rose garden, botanical gardens, secret city gardens, city parks, hidden courtyards, an art garden, museum gardens and vegetable- and herb gardens.

To make the green theme complete, we will also organize a veggie cooking workshop under the banana trees (including vegetables & herbes shopping in de souk). We will make an adventurous bike ride to the gigantic palm grove and a roadtrip to the Atlas Mountains. All the participants will get an herbarium notebook, in which they can make daily sketches and collect green memories, such as leaves and seeds.

You will be surprised how green the Red City actually is. Urban jungle adventures with guided tours and delicious moroccan food, make this green travel-workshop unforgettable!

Six days in Marrakech! Green is the theme. Price € 725,00 per person.
The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket.
It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)

INCLUDED:

- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'Amis.
- 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks are not included)
- veggie cooking workshop
- collecting green memories in a herbarium
- all excursions in and around Marrakech

This workshop is a real treat for nature-loving enthusiasts. An adventurous journey to Marrakech, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

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SPRING COOL CROCHET WORKSHOP
arrival: Wednesday 11th of April 2018 - leaving: Monday 16th of April 2018
(last minute offer € 650,00 per person)
AUTUMN COOL CROCHET WORKSHOP
arrival: Wednesday 3rd of October 2018 - leaving: Monday 8th of October 2018 (FULLY BOOKED)

Six days in Marrakech! Crochet while discovering Marrakech and surroundings in a very special and unique way. Price € 725,00 per person. The price is based on a shared twin bedroom and excluding flight ticket. It's always possible to book extra nights, before or after the workshop (info@chambresdamis.com)

PROGRAMME:

Buying wool, cotton and yarns in the souk. Urban jungle crochet at Jardin Majorelle. Crochet in the desert. Moroccan crochet in the open on the colourful Place des Epices. A daytrip to the Atlas mountains. Crochet on the roof of Maison de Photographie with it's wonderful view of the town... Delicious moroccan food and adventures in and around Marrakech make this travel-workshop never-to-be-forgotten!

INCLUDED:

- transfer from airport Marrakech to Riad Chambres d'Amis (v.v.)
- shared twin bedroom (5 nights) including breakfast in Chambres d'amis.
- 3 dinners & 4 lunches (drinks are not included)
- a daily crochet project with yarns, hooks and patterns
- all excursions in and around Marrakech

This workshop is a real treat for yarn lovers. An adventurous journey, you can make on your own, while you will be 'pampered' and only have to enjoy and relax.

If you would like to join one of the workshops, please send me an e-mail; info@woodwoolstool.com

The CC and GG workshops are a collaboration with my friend Ank van der Pluijm, owner of hotel CHAMBRES D'AMIS, green oasis in the Medina of Marrakech and our 'basecamp' during the workshops.

We start both workshops with a welcome dinner on the rooftop of Chambres d'Amis on the first night.

c c p p

c c p p

cool crochet palmtree pattern

and moreover

cool crochet petit projet

I'm working on some crochet projects & patterns for the cool crochet workshop in April.

Every day a new project, a new crochet technique and a new place to explore in Marrakech.

I drew a palm tree on graph paper, slightly smaller than the palmtree I designed last year. Remember this one?

Simply because it's nice to finish a small daily project, so we have a lots of time for other pursuits, such as having a delicious Moroccan lunch, enjoy the surroundings and relax.

This afternoon I nestled myself with hook and yarn on the daybed, to check how long it takes to make this project. Well piece of cake, the cute palmtree is cool crochet project approved.

medina life

A trip to Marrakech on your travel bucket list?

But you rather not travel alone? This is your chance!
With a group of super nice participants from all over the world, you will have the time of your life!
During the Cool Crochet workshop, you stay in the green oasis, hotel Chambres d'Amis, in the middle of the Medina in Marrakech.
You will discover the colorful city in a very special, authentic and adventurous way.
We will bring you to the most wonderful places and yes, we will crochet 'in between' in the coolest places.
How about a daytrip to the Atlas Mountains? Or crochet a bikini top in the middle of the desert?
Furthermore we take you to wool heaven in the Souk (don't forget to save some space in your suitcase, to bring wool from the Souk)

Click H E R E for more information and send me a mail, if you think this is about you.

We'll be back in Marrakech, 8 weeks from now...