A French-owned establishment, Riad Ariha in the old medina of Marrakech is an unforgettable oasis if one longs for contemplation, warm hospitality, and sunshine. After knocking the brass handle of the ornately carved black door, Abdo greeted me and led me to a bright and serene courtyard framed by bougainvilleas and shielded by three white fabric panels; a small fountain and pool of water emerged as well. He served me with Moroccan tea and cookies as I wrestled with the next decisions to make: Relaxing or Oriental massage for 60 minutes, Hammam with scrub, or Pedicure—they offer these and many other spa services at the comfort of your room. My exploration of this oasis took me to its roof, passing a lounge upholstered in white. The noon sun made everything exceedingly vivid: the cobalt blue pots, the blue sky above, and the terra cotta dome. But it was my room that told me I had arrived. Wearing my blue caftan and forking my vermicelli with chicken and apricots in bed which they served, the spirit of Henri Matisse's Luxe, Calme et Volupté sums my little oasis in this uncanny post-colonial world of pleasure and fantasy. Riad Ariha is a wonderful place to retreat solo or with dear friends for a night or a week, and Abdo and Khalid will take care of you as soon as you arrive at the Sidi ben Slimane gate of the medina. From there, you meander the cobblestoned alleyways, circumambulating a mosque and passing a hammam and the 17th-century Dar Zellij restaurant on your right. Voila!
