(IMAGE: The roof deck with the winter cover protecting the inner courtyard below)
Visions of an obscure, Moroccan-style motel trailed behind me into oblivion as we descended onto African soil. I had no idea what lay ahead of me. Inside the walls of the Medina, anything is possible. So, in the middle of utter chaos, you can say our Riad is an oasis of tranquility and equilibrium—minus the inhabitants that run amuck inside.
One of the inhabitants 
These traditional Moroccan houses or sometimes palaces have an internal courtyard/garden which makes sense because these buildings are all inward focused. The main idea being that a Riad provides family privacy and protection from Morocco’s sweltering heat. Along with that, there are no large windows looking out onto the streets, because back when they were designed and built, women were not not allowed to see or go outside. All the rooms open out into the central chamber. In traditional Riads, you will most likely see four orange or lemon trees residing in the courtyard.
We have three orange trees and one banana tree
Today, most Riads have been restored and turned into hotels or restaurants. The two women that run our Riad Sekkat, where we are staying, say that you’re to feel as if it’s your home… with service
The styles have been changed over the years, the designs are all different, and the cultural influences have impacted the evolution of Riads. Though, to the wonder of the ever-changing world, it has obstinately not evolved much; the basic form of the Riad still remains unscathed. It’s actually quite simple, yet there in lies everyone’s own unique and cherished story.
The game room… or better known as the wifi room!
PopPop and Jones painting on the roof deck
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