Friday 23 May 2008

A taste of Arabic culture - Moroccan Riads

Having spent a fair bit of time in Morocco myself, I'm particularly taken with some of the Riads which we have put up on One Off Places. Ironically, in Morocco itself, a riad is probably anything but a 'one off place', but in the knowledge that the majority of our visitors come from UK and Europe, to us, there is still something very special about them!

So far, the majority of the ones we are listing are in Marrakech, usually deep in the Medina, offering any visitors the chance to be completely immersed in Moroccan life. The pace of Marrakech can be pretty frenetic, especially for those not used to it, so there's nothing better than being able to retreat to your Riad hideaway when it all gets too much for you!

This ornate riad dates back to the 16th century and has a beautiful roof terrace and a plunge pool in the courtyard. From Marrakech it's an easy journey out of the city to the coast or the mountains. For more info about this riad, see http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/viewPropertyDetails.aspx?ID=234



If you can't face the hustle and bustle of city life, then head for this property in Essaouira. Riad de la Mer is an 18th century Jewish merchant’s house situated in the oldest part of the Medina, known as the Kasbah. Recently restored with the addition of modern facilities, it nevertheless retains the rich character of the original house. It has panoramic views from the terrace of the sea and port and beyond. For more info on this property, see http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/viewPropertyDetails.aspx?ID=197



Friday 9 May 2008

Places a bit closer to home

This month I've started targeting places a bit closer to home, so I'm trying to source One Off Places in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. One of my favourites is 'Sithean', a new and ecologically friendly house on a working organic hill farm overlooking Glen Lonan in Scotland. It looks gorgeous! Have a look at this:



You can see more details about this place if you click on this link: http://www.oneoffplaces.co.uk/viewPropertyDetails.aspx?ID=273.

Meanwhile, I will continue on my search for the UK hideaways!