Marrakech Monday - The Majorelle Gardens

After a few days of much needed rain the sun returned briefly yesterday morning.  Z and I took advantage of the good weather and visited one of my favourite places, Le Jardin Majorelle, which fortunately is just a couple of streets from where we live. These stunning botanical gardens where cobalt blue provides a stunning backdrop were designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s. Until his death in 2008, it belonged to Yves St.Laurent who bought the gardens in 1980 and made them a huge tourist attraction.

As you enter the gardens, a shimmering fountain greets you.

It turns out that Z and I had quite different ideas about the purpose of our visit.  I wanted to see this. An exhibition on Yves Saint Laurent at the garden`s museum.  It`s been on since last November and has only a few days left to run.

However, Z quickly announced that he in fact wanted to do this...

turtle spotting. Who got their wish?  Well Z of course. As it turns out, the exhibition was packed and not a place for a toddler.  I`ll try and return on my own later this week.

So we turtle spotted and enjoyed the gardens.

We saw beautiful reflections of the palm trees...

paid homage at the Yves Saint Laurent memorial where his ashes are scattered...

admired fun and lovely artwork..Yves Saint Laurent`s `LOVE` prints..

and some romantic graffiti on the bamboo plants.  Really Fred and Pauline you`re old enough to know better.

 One of us learned through experience that cacti are prickly.

We admired pretty blooms...

and not so pretty plants amidst immaculately raked gravel.

But after a time, it was just a bit too much for some...

so after some refreshments...

.. it was time to go home along Rue Yves St. Laurent.