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Valen at the Valmor- A Trendy Apartment Stay In Lisbon
I had been traveling non-stop for six weeks, when I got lucky enough to stay at the Valmor in Lisbon. I had gotten to the point where I was tiring of small hotel rooms, dirty laundry, and eating out for every meal. I just loved the roomy kitchen, and after so many meals eating out, it was great to finally cook for myself, and make my own coffee. There was a grocery store and three health food stores nearby, so I was basically in heaven. When I didn’t feel like cooking, there were great restaurants nearby. I love eating momos at Casa Nepal, and I had one of the best…
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Casa Amora- A Welcoming Place To Stay In Lisbon, Portugal
Casa Amora is a charming guesthouse in Lisbon located near the Rato Metro stop in the Praça Amoreiras neighborhood. I absolutely loved the garden patio area where I had breakfast each morning and just hung out and relaxed. Casa Amora also prepares a nice breakfast with casseroles, rice pudding, eggs made the way you want them, fresh squeezed juices, coffee, and meats and cheeses. (Go early, though, if you don’t want to miss the casseroles. Breakfast is buffet- style, and they will run out of them if you sleep in!) I thought it was great that Juan, the manager was on site every morning to make sure that I had everything I needed, and…
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Feeling At Home At Riad Boussa in Marrakesh, Morocco
From the moment I entered Riad Boussa, I had a feeling like I had come home. I was greeted with warmth by Brigitte and her staff. I was invited to immediately sit down and enjoy a cup of mint tea and delicious sugar cookies. The beautiful deep reds and oranges of the beautiful living room enveloped me in a hug, and I felt comforted and relaxed. As if on cue, a cat appeared in my lap and started purring. Was I dreaming? No, I was at Riad Boussa in Marakkesh, and it was great to stay in such a comforting place while there. The room was cozy and comfortable. (The rooms…
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Finding Paradise at Riad Camilia in Marakkesh
The first time you go to Morocco, and step into the medina, can make you feel like Alice in Wonderland who has slipped down the rabbit hole. Just the five-minute walk from where the taxi dropped me off to the Riad was an experience of disorientation and unreality. There was activity everywhere. The donkey cart carrying my luggage managed to squeeze past other carts full of bread, fruits and nuts, and even one with a mattress. Already vendors were trying to sell me rugs, spices, and argan oil. Fabrics every color of the rainbow swirled above me, scooters honked for me to get out-of-the-way (but where?) and catcalls of every sort and…
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Morocco Culture: Experiencing The Moroccan Hammam
This piece is part of the momondo experiences series where I was challenged to visit a hammam in Marrakech. I had heard it could be a brutal experience, but the offer of a massage afterwards led me to accept he challenge. Yes, it was a bit brutal, but also invigorating. This was an experience that left my skin tingling for days. Thank you momondo for organizing the experience! I lay on a hot marble slab, a slab that was so hot, I was arching my back to avoid as much skin contact as possible. I was scrubbed so violently by a gloved women, that I was pretty sure that all of…
