If We Weren't Close Before, We Would Be After This - Day Seven in Marrakesh
After six days of early starts, camels, mountains, desert adventures, zip lines, quad bikes and enough travelling to last a lifetime, day seven finally brought something we'd all been dreaming about - sleep. Glorious, uninterrupted, luxurious sleep.
After the best night's sleep of the entire trip, we gathered together for the best breakfast of the holiday. There was so much food to choose from. Pastries, toast, fruit, pancakes, meats and cheeses (always pleases), eggs and bacon, coffee, juice... you name it and it was there!
After eating our own body weight in pastries we were ready for the day and on the agenda was just one thing - relaxation! We had a spa booked for the morning and an afternoon lounging at the hotel pool pencilled in.
Our first stop was a traditional Moroccan hammam spa experience. Now, when we booked this, I think most of us imagined a peaceful spa day involving fluffy robes, cucumber water and a nice, relaxing massage. What actually happened was something very different and I can confidently say that if we weren't already close as a group, we certainly were by the end of the spa.
After arriving, we were handed our robes and asked to change into some rather sexy paper pants and nothing else. We put them on, donned our robes and were split into two groups. So far, so normal.
Then we entered the hammam.
Marble seats lined the walls and we sat waiting for instructions. The next instruction was:
"Please remove your robes." I'm sorry, what now?! The room went very quiet.
Suddenly eleven women, some of who had only known each other for only a matter of days, found themselves sitting together wearing nothing but paper pants. Nobody knew where to look. Awkwardness, laughter, even some singing followed as I think everyone went through every emotion imaginable. It was definitely a bonding experience.
Aside from everyone supporting each other and trying to make each other feel comfortable and at ease, what followed was probably the most thorough cleaning process any of us had ever experienced. We were washed, scrubbed, washed again, scrubbed some more. I don't think I've been as clean since birth! And then, splitting off into smaller rooms was possibly the best massage I've ever had.
After all the travelling, walking, climbing, sandboarding and general adventuring we'd been doing, it was exactly what our bodies needed.
Back at the hotel, we had just enough time for a quick refresh before gathering poolside for a very special surprise. Although her birthday wasn't until after the trip, we had secretly organised an early 40th birthday celebration for our wonderful Verity.
We decorated our poolside area with balloons, banners and Verity's face stuck everywhere. There were birthday sashes and a tiara and as she came down to relax by the pool it was a genuine surprise for her as we all sang Happy Birthday!
It was such a lovely moment and one that was so deserved. Verity is one of those genuinely beautiful people inside and out, who lights up every room she walks into and it felt incredibly special to celebrate with her and let her know how loved she is. Each of us had brought her a small gift and together we'd also bought her a Pandora bracelet complete with a camel charm to remember our Moroccan adventure.
The rest of the afternoon was wonderfully relaxed. Poolside drinks, lunch in the sunshine, lazing in the water and plenty of laughter. There was absolutely no rushing around, no deadlines or places to be. It was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Eventually it was time to get dressed up for our final evening together - a birthday dinner which had been booked for a fabulous local restaurant.
From the moment we arrived, we knew it was somewhere special. The venue was absolutely stunning - an open-air setting with a stage in the centre, surrounded by water, lush planting, atmospheric lighting and beautiful décor. Everywhere you looked felt elegant and magical.
The food was included and was absolutely incredible.
There was an endless stream of entertainment including singers, fire performers, aerial acrobats, belly dancers and more. Naturally, it wasn't long before our group became part of the entertainment. I may have started a conga line that grew and grew until it was winding its way around the entire restaurant. Karen may have found herself on stage dancing. Flo may have stolen the singer's microphone and treated the entire restaurant to an impromptu rendition of songs from The Lion King. In fact most of us ended up on stage at some point in the evening.
Debbie and Karen were once again unofficially "sold off" to the waiter. Birthday sparklers appeared for Verity. And somewhere along the way, secretly filling each other's camera rolls with random photos became the game of the evening. Nobody's phone was safe.
The atmosphere on that last evening together was incredible and the laughter was constant. None of us wanted the evening to end, so much so that we ended up staying until closing.
By the end of the night, with our feet hurting and our faces aching from laughing so much, we headed back to our hotel. A few dedicated party animals continued the celebrations back in their rooms but the rest of us admitted defeat and headed to bed. Completely exhausted but utterly happy.
Tomorrow would be our final few hours in Marrakesh and little did we know they would involve a celebrity...
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