Despite our earlier episode of extortion, I had still fallen helplessly under the spell of Marrakesh. Another fellow who had become even more enraptured with this sultry oasis was the famous French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.

In the 1980’s, he and his partner/business-partner Pierre Berge purchased a crumbling villa Northwest of the Medina. This home and the surrounding gardens is now known as the Jardin Majorelle. The abode was originally owned by the French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle, who had visited Morocco to convalesce from illness but ultimately ended falling in love with Marrakesh. The artist built a cubist home with luxuriant landscaping at a site just outside the walled city. His color scheme was inspired by the kaleidoscope he encountered throughout his travels in the country. Majorelle patented a striking shade of blue for which he had given his name-Bleu Majorelle-and featured throughout. But upkeep of the property proved too costly for the Frenchman and so it was left to the elements.

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