In April 2019 I sold my business of 21 years DOGUE….yes as in the House of Canine Couture.  It had been an incredible two decades, from opening our first retail store in Sydney to wholesaling our brand internationally, DOGUE had given so much more than I would have ever imagined.

When the classic canine chapter of my life closed, I was craving something new (who isn’t), though I just didn’t know what that looked like.  I wouldn’t say I was flat, but I knew that I needed some magic in my life.  And so with a note book and pen in hand, (and the occasional glass of vino) I decided to take some time to think about what I loved…besides the world of pooch fashion!

What kept popping up was design, interiors, homewares, sourcing, food and travel so when a friend told me about Sally and her tours to Morocco I knew I had to get in touch.

Ahh, The Western Kingdom, The Santorini of Africa….Morocco had always been high on my bucket list.  I was drawn to its exotic culture, it’s markets, medinas, medieval mazes; its vibrant mix of colour and design, homewares and textiles that seem to effortless create its own unique sense of style, beauty and sophistication.  

Indeed the only way to further spice up Morocco is with Sally’s love of the jewel of north Africa.  That love is infectious and when she told me was a spot on a trip leaving in just three weeks - aptly titled “The Magic of Morocco” I felt like it was meant to be.

Our itinerary was action packed, we were covering a lot of ground over 13 days but for a first-timer like me it was perfect because I got to see so much of what this incredible country has to offer.

The first question friends and colleagues asked when I returned was of course “what was your favourite place”.  But imagine choosing between shopping and cocktails, massages and markets. I loved it all!  What I can say is that every day my senses were alive… the colours, smells, textures and tastes overwhelmed me and I was consistently presented with “pinch me moments”.

Riding camels at sunset through the Sahara,  dancing and drinking champagne on the dunes in the moonlight, exploring 50 shades of blue in Chefchaouen, navigating our way along the tiny passages of the ancient medinas and souks of Fes and Marrakesh whilst dodging donkeys and motorbikes on the footpaths….it was a delicious sensory overload!

Basking in a sea of vintage carpets and coloured spices, haggling over prices whilst sipping mint tea, working our work through bustling food markets, watching snake charmers, story tellers and henna artists work their magic and wandering through boutique galleries and awe-inspiring concept stores.. every single moment and experience left me feeling inspired and revitalised about this enchanting place.

One morning, I crawled out of bed early and headed up to the rooftop to watch the sunrise over the Sahara Desert.  I was treated to a multitude of colours including pink, red, peach and dark yellow with silhouettes of camels in the distance,  and as I felt the warmth of being in that moment I realised I had the biggest smile on my face.  In Australia I knew I needed some magic in my my life - Morocco had delivered.  And it kept delivering!

In the evenings we would retreat to our beautiful raids, and jaw-dropping Kasbahs where we could relax, indulge in a Hammam and share our stories from the day we shared, followed by fabulous dinners and drinks on rooftop terraces and in local authentic restaurants”.  It all, quite simply, took my breath away.

A highlight for me was to meet the lovely Hassan, Souk & Co’s Moroccan partner, a true gentleman with a passion for his country that shines through his every word.  His knowledge and insights are invaluable, while his patience for answering all sorts of questions (some feasible) is both impressive and entertaining.  The trip would not have been the same without his guidance, sense of humour and passion for shopping….ok maybe not shopping but Hassan managed to take us to all the retail hot spots with a smile on his face that was only bettered by ours!

Another man who made our trip complete was our fabulous driver Abdul, our “knight in shining armour”, who would appear in his shiny silver van just when you needed him most.  After a crazy evening negotiating the crowds and excitement of Jemaa-el-Fna, Abdul would arrive in the most civilised fashion - almost like he was in slow motion - to whisk us away in air conditioned style for a calming glass of Rose.

Of course it is impossible to write about this trip without acknowledging the incredible women I shared this experience with.  We all came together with a sense of adventure and to step outside of our comfort zones…and boy did we do this.  I don’t remember ever laughing so much…well not for 13 days straight, and I feel super lucky to have some fabulous new friends. #bestgroupever