Courses

,,MEET ME IN MOROCCO,, WITH SANDRA DURAN WILSON

With Sandra Duran Wilson

At MOROCCO

10 March - 20 March, 2024

Morocco has been appearing in my dreams since I was a child. I grew up with pictures of Spanish Moorish architecture and my dad gave me a beautiful hand made leather tote from Morocco. The markets, the spices, music, dances and landscapes have called me ever since. Now we are going! The Italian team of Karolina and David have put together an itinerary for us to explore, create and eat our way across the dunes. I have worked with them for years and they always pamper us. We have a busy schedule of experiences and creating a travel journal is the best way to really see the land the people and culture. We will learn calligraphy, make a ceramic souvenir, create your own perfume, have a cooking class, ride a camel, wrap a turban, have a spa day and eat! I love to use watercolor pencils, acrylic inks, paint markers and collage to create the book. A timeless treasure you will return to again and again. You may incorporate text, fabrics, recipes and stories into your book. We can decorate the cover using local fabrics or other finds from the markets. Let the colors of Morocco wash over you as you open your heart to the wonder of this magical place. Any or no art experience is needed. Your book will be a gift to yourself for awakening your creativity along with the awe of travel.

Course Highlights

1. • Learn masterful art techniques from Sandra
2. Discover the culture and traditions of Morocco
3. • Experience Marrakesh town, Agafay desert, historic ighrem of ksar Ait Benhaddou, Atlas mountains and Stunning costal town of Essaouira.
4. Taste all the best Moroccan cuisine
5. Experience specially selected activities as: -Cooking class -Caligraphy session -Cermic workshop -Perfume making -Ride on the camel -Visit Majorelle Gardens and much more...
6. Accomodation in beautiful and intimate riad in the heart of Medina

Day by Day Workshop Schedule

1. Day 1: 10th March Arrival Day Arrival at Marrakech airport. Transfer to the old town, walk to the riad, a traditional Moroccan house with a small courtyard complete with water features that provide an oasis of peace in the middle of the hectic city. Check- in and have a moment of rest and relaxation. Welcome dinner in the riad, with intro of day-to-day schedule with Sandra and Karolina
2. Day 2: 11th March Get your bearings and pamper yourself! Breakfast 8.30-9.30 followed by traditional Hammam Spa treatment for body and soul (own cost) Lunch in the riad restaurant. Following lunch, we will discover Marrakech's old town with a guided walking tour of the medina with its maze of narrow streets. We will discover an old caravan inn, hidden riads and learn about the traditional way of life, public water supplies and bread ovens are just a few of the everyday experiences we will capture and include in our artist book. A walk through the souk (the largest Moroccan market) with numerous artisans and shops with colorful products is a wonderful place to pick up fabrics and papers for our artist travel book. We will visit a riad where we will learn the art of local calligraphy that can be used in your book. Back to riad and time to rest. Around 6.00 pm traditional mint tea on the rooftop cafe terrace overlooking the Jemaa el Fnaa, the most vibrant square in the city with snake charmers, musicians, and drummers. Opportunity to taste some of the local specialities-:◆" Dinner at the Dar Essalam restaurant with live music and an oriental dancer.
3. Day 3: 12th March Let’s create. Breakfast 8.30-9.30 followed by art session with Sandra. Lunch in riad ,later on around 2 pm we will walk to the local ceramic artist for a half day workshop. You will be back home with the beautiful souvenir and dinner follows in the delicious local restaurant.
4. Day 4: 13th March Travel and overnight adventure Early Breakfast in the riad and then depart to Ait-Ben-Haddou. The trip involves crossing the Atlas Mountains, and we will stop for lunch on the way with the beautiful view. Arrive in the town and have a guided tour, then time on your own to explore and shop. Later check in to our guest house, mint tea and sweets in a traditional Kasbah. Dinner time.
5. Day 5: 14th March Perfect Scents Breakfast in the guest house and then drive back to Marrakesh with a stop for lunch. On the way to Marrakesh we will stop at a perfume distillery where you can create your own scent. There is also a little museum of perfumes. Back to the riad for dinner.
6. Day 6: 15th March Camels and turbans! Breakfast home and then departure to Agafay desert where you will experience camel ride and learn how to make a real turban! A Lifetime experience◆:"- Little picnic on the desert follows. Experience the dunes and let this time translate into your art book. Back home for dinner at the riad.
7. Day 7: 16th March Cooking lesson and studio time After breakfast You will enjoy a cooking class. Our private chef will reveal to us the secrets of Moroccan cuisine beginning with shopping for the ingredients at the market! We prepare harira soup and traditional tajine on our own. In the afternoon you will have a time in the studio. Dinner served 7pm
8. Day 8: Another exciting adventure awaits. After breakfast, we drive to Essaouira, the former fortress of the Phoenicians and later the Portuguese. This is the town of white and blue, known as the cradle of artists. The median is a treasure trove of shopping and art galleries. On the way, you can meet local goats climbing argan trees. A visit to a small, traditional fishing port and to Skala, a stone bastion sunk in the ocean. A stroll through the streets of the medina with numerous workshops of wood craftsmanship in thuja. Lunch on your own and time to shop and explore. A walk on the beautiful, wide and kilometres long beach. Essaouira is perfect for photos. Returning to Marrakesh, we will visit a cooperative of women who traditionally produce argan oil. Dinner in the riad.
9. Day 9: 18th March Gardens and Architecture After breakfast, we will drive to the Majorelle Gardens, made famous by Yves St Laurent. Time to take pictures in the gardens (architecture and nature). We will get to know the second face of Marrakesh, a new city with twentieth-century architecture that combines elements of modernity with Moroccan tradition. Lunch at a local restaurant. In addition, we will discover a street where the Catholic Church is adjacent to the mosque. The two towers look at each other. Perfect view of an image showing the diversity of Morocco. Return to the riad for dinner.
10. Day 10: 19th March Create Art Breakfast in the riad and time in the studio to finish our books. Later, free time to shop and explore. Take a last hammam treatment and pack. Lunch on own this day :"-◆ Meeting at 6pm for gallery of art and gala dinner.
11. Day 11: 20th March Departure day.Breakfast in the riad, check -out and transfer to the airpot. Untill we see You again:)

Course Cost: 4800$