Souk Machine

Sweet & spicy escape to the local market. Enjoy the ride!

On a hot summer day, as a deep and heavy heat had invaded the air, the city really felt like Marrakech.

It was one of these afternoons where napping seemed to be the only reasonable option and yet, I was dreaming of exoticism and evasion.

I kept thinking about the story of this arabic royal who escaped the palace in disguise to enjoy a simpler life... How thrilling!

Carried away by this "Arabian Nights mirage", I decided to leave the house in search of a new adventure. So I started looking for a light, comfortable (yet stylish) outfit that would protect me from the burning sunlights and I came up with this:

• Linen striped pants and red brick top for the most Saharan effect

• A pair of orange espadrilles as an occidental alternative to the babouches

• A velvet camel shopping bag to carry all my findings

• Gold jewelry as a valuable bartering system in case of trade

• A straw hat and a pair of square orange sunglasses to protect me from the sun

TIP : Linen pieces are perfect for summer but they wrinkle very easily! Hang them in your closet rather than folding them.

TIP2: Square sunglasses are back, although they do not compliment every face type. Try them out.

I borrowed my cousin's VESPA and took off to the local market. I headed to the city center, riding through its cobbled streets, till I reached the shadow a of big fig tree in a narrow alley where I parked my motorized device of the day.

The alley opened up to a little market place where dozen of stalls were nicely set up next to each others, filled with various spices and exotic fruits. I was somewhere between the Chelsea market and a Tunisian souk!

I bought all kind of spices, mangos, white peaches, fresh roses... but my best finding of the day was a bracelet. The lady who sold it to me said it was made of stones that had some creative and empowering energy.

I wanted to believe her, as she seemed genuinely sincere and kind. A pure soul who wanted me nothing but good.

I took all my purchases with me and went to sit on a bench in the shade of what I believed was some sort of palm tree.

Music was playing, drapes were drying out on cords, cats were napping on the floor and neighbors were playing chess at their front door. I took a bite in one of my white peaches and thought: this is summer in the city.