Marrakech: A Party To Remember

: MARYAM MONTAGUE; 10/07/10

Marrakech / Morocco Board News Service - I had met them accidentally. French, charming, stylish...the kind of people you want to know. That was months ago and there had been meet ups since then, including a dinner in the embroidered tent at Peacock Pavilions, Geraldine's Moroccan pique-nique chic and a soiree at designer Corinne Bensimon's house.

It was during one of those get togethers that I had heard about it. The party. Oh, it was to be a party unlike other parties -- a Hollywood/Bollywood extravaganza. David was turning 40 and it was their 10th wedding anniversary, too. Friends were flying in from everywhere to celebrate.

I was in Egypt on assignment but told my travel agent to make sure I would be back in time. I didn't want to miss it, you see.

And so this is the tale of that night, that unforgettable night.

To start, I dressed for trouble. I was assuming there would some of that. And I was right.

When we arrived, the party was already in full swing. A red carpet runway had been set up in the garden. This was the very first thing that I saw ....

That was followed by this.

oh. my. Seeing me wide-eyed, this handsome fellow asked if a gin and tonic would be in order.

And so I sipped. And side-by-side with this beauty..........

I watched........as go go girls mixed wiith turbaned princes.

All lit by Moroccan lantern light.......

everybody looked, well, amazing, if a little, ummm.....

crazy (in the best possible way, of course....)

And then the whole party moved to an entirely different location. And it all became yet more fantastical. But that's another tale for another day.

-------------------------

After the dancing down the red carpet, we followed a woman in a boa, through the gardens and down a winding path. Until we came to Geraldine and David's fantastic house in the Beldi Country Club.

In their garden was the ultimate outdoor Moroccan dining scene.

Ahem, some men were only partially clad. I averted my eyes, of course.

I even spied the adorable host, David, with a plate and a gorgeous turban.

Naturally, I also spied a man in a bra and sari. But that's another matter altogether.

But he was not alone in his jaw dropping attire.

Under the disco lights, intriguing chatting was going on everywhere.

Did I mention the music?

A few people trickled onto the dance floor.

Everyone showing off their favorite moves.

There were even astonishing performances (She says sweating.)

Soon the dance floor was packed.

I even spotted the darling hostess Geraldine in a platinum wig, sunglasses, and shorts. Looking so fabulous!

And I was on the dance floor, too! (Cough, perhaps best not to show you a picture of that. )

Really, it was all too too much fun. It was late, very late when we followed a man in shiny harem pants and left.

When I looked back over my shoulder, the birthday boy was still partying.

Happy Birthday David. Pls turn 40 again very soon......

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Comments (11)

0 #1 good for you — aloha from hawaii 2010-10-07 10:08

that's nice that you made it on time ,i'm pretty sure you didn't take ram,if you did your travel plans would've been f#$@!$#@!#@! , ps this party look like a gay and lesbian bash , good for that dump marrakech.

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0 #2 RAM is the worst AIRLINE — abdollah 2010-10-07 21:00

To be brief - back to 2009, in a Casa - New York flight we almost had heart attack when pilot made a left turn during the landing...every body and everything was shaking. we almost died. Plus service was horrible horrible and the ticket pricing was unbelievable unbelievable high. PLEASE DO NOT FLY RAM amymore. be very very careful.

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0 #3 how this made it to an article...!!! — khalid 2010-10-07 22:58

If the purpose of this to tell us that Drag Queens exist in Morocco, we all know that, and nothing wrong with it.
I just don't get the point of this post!!!

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0 #4 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Marrakech: A Party To Remember — Morcelli 2010-10-07 23:11

There was time when Marrakesh was miserable and poor. The only thing that brighten the streets were the orange trees. I am glad to see that tourists are spending cash to help the local economy. You might not agree with what the tourists do, but don't tell that to those employed by the tourist industry.
A hotel is about to open soon , 10 k / night. any taker?

www.royalmansour.com/

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0 #5 don't get it — SimohamedNY 2010-10-08 03:40

I don't get it! What’s the point behind this post? Entertainment? publicity for Maryam Montague and her business? or the drag queens and fags who have made Marrakech the darling destination of every homosexual in the globe?! I honestly don't get it! I come to Morocco board to browse important interesting subjects about our beloved country. I have always believed (and I still do) that this site brings together bright interesting people and important causes that we all care about. If I want to learn about drag queens and so called promoter of Moroccan tourism (this Maryam Montague), I would simply go directly to their websites. But again, I might be wrong or just stiff! But hey, it's the new Morocco! Morocco l-3ahd l jadid!!! It is the new 3am Zin!! At least Si Driss said and did it in a Moroccan way, not the Chelsea way!

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0 #6 Don't ask, and do Tell! — man en blanc 2010-10-08 11:26

What happens in Marrackech should and must resonate throughout the world!

We need every dollar that tourism brings to Morocco. I don't care if they are gay, lesbians or drag queens.
Let's not try to play the old hollier-than-th ou routine. Hedonism was always attached to the history of Marrackech, from the orgies of the Glaoui short-lived dynasty, to the excesses of the late king.

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0 #7 i agree with my dear moro hawaiin friend — moro yankee 2010-10-08 11:28

marrakech is a DUMP, period, it's like vegas, a piss hole in the desert.

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0 #8 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Marrakech: A Party To Remember — Morcelli 2010-10-08 12:54

Thank you for posting the other face of Marrakesh, please post more of this.

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0 #9 Don't read the article if you don't like it! — Aminaa 2012-11-03 18:01

Quoting SimohamedNY:

I don't get it! What’s the point behind this post? Entertainment? publicity for Maryam Montague and her business? or the drag queens and fags who have made Marrakech the darling destination of every homosexual in the globe?! I honestly don't get it! I come to Morocco board to browse important interesting subjects about our beloved country. I have always believed (and I still do) that this site brings together bright interesting people and important causes that we all care about. If I want to learn about drag queens and so called promoter of Moroccan tourism (this Maryam Montague), I would simply go directly to their websites. But again, I might be wrong or just stiff! But hey, it's the new Morocco! Morocco l-3ahd l jadid!!! It is the new 3am Zin!! At least Si Driss said and did it in a Moroccan way, not the Chelsea way!

It's a nice post, it represents the fun side of Morocco, I don't know which part of Morocco you come from, but we love our Morocco as it is. Sexual tourism? hmmmmmm that's sort of propaganda you're spreading against Morocco, of course as in any country in Africa, there are things to improve in Morocoo but we are not Thailand when you talk about sexual tourism.

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0 #10 Thanks for this post — Aminaa 2012-11-03 18:03

When I was young Agadir was the first tourist city, but after the earthquake, things changed and I'm glad that Marrakesh has taken all the credit for Tourism in Morocco. It's such a great town to visit.

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