| Fifteen
minutes walk from Djemaa el Fna, Riad Maizie had lain empty for nine years
when we bought it in 2001. The 200-year-old house was renovated over the
following year by twenty-six specialists from the local mosque, with
expert guidance throughout from Noureddine Fartmissi foreman of works, who
is still installed as our charming and very competent manager. Every inch
of every surface was embellished - the house is a sampler of traditional
Marakchi decoration techniques, with tadelakt, mousharabi, Gibb’s frieze,
doors painted in traditional Arabic and Berber style, intricately painted
wooden ceilings and zellig fessi. The whole drama-filled process is
described in my book Cinnamon City. Wherever possible we retained the quirky hand-made original features – huge double doors with massive bolts, carved wooden shutters and elaborate wrought metal grilles. Prints and paintings – many by Dan - adorn the walls, and an array of gorgeous locally-made rugs decorate the cool, tiled floors. The heavy cedar front door opens into a plant-filled courtyard with two fountains prettily carpeted with rose petals. There are four fountains in all, which occasionally plash, depending on the state of the plumbing and electrics. Noureddine has two assistants who clean, launder, iron and will cook up a feast for you if you wish to dine on the roof watching the sunset. Alcohol is something of a mystery – buying it requires a trip to the French quarter - but given notice and very specific instructions Noureddine will provide anything you want. Above all he wants you to be happy.
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
On the ground floor there is a proper kitchen which guests are free to use
(not the usual cupboard) an adjoining dining room, and a small winter
sitting room with a fireplace.
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
||
