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MarrakechTRIED AND TESTEDWhile there is no denying thatMarrakech is in the midst of a new spaupsurge, there are some well-establishedvenues that remain firm favourites within-the-know spa enthusiasts.First among them is the Spa atAmanjena. Also located a few kilometresoutside of the medina, Amanjena wasthe first Aman resort to open in Africaback in 2000. Built with space andtradition in mind, there are 32 pavilions,six two-storey Maisons and the AlHamra Maison, all of which radiate outfrom the ancient basin (irrigation pool),which is the centrepiece of the resort.Amanjena’s Spa offers everythingfrom hammam treatments to traditionalMoroccan scrubs to massage andreflexology, and provides a sanctuaryfor those wishing to escape the heatand thronging crowds of the city. Aftera consultation I decide upon a Thaimassage. It’s not a traditional Moroccantherapy of course, but after meeting atherapist from Bangkok, I anticipate anauthentic, invigorating workout that willease a few knots out of my shoulders.The smart, low-key space is calm andunfussy, in keeping with the generalAman ethos. After changing into myMassage the mind(above) An earthycolour scheme andcandlelight at PalaisNamaskar createsa relaxed, calmingambiencecotton Thai pyjamas, the therapist startsworking on unblocking the flow of vitalenergies by using her powerful thumbs,palms, forearms, elbows, feet, knees,and even shins. The strong bodyworkflows perfectly, eased by the therapist’ssmoothness and rhythm, which areuninterrupted. Overall, the sessionis something akin to a wonderfullychoreographed performance; blissfulat times, but challenging in terms ofthe stretches, just as it should be.Amanjena means ‘peaceful paradise,’(‘aman’ is Sanskrit for ‘peaceful,’ while‘jena’ means ‘paradise’ in Arabic) and,as I float through the gardens postmassage,it is easy to see why.If it’s rest and relaxation that you’relooking for, Marrakech can certainlyprovide. As Jean Pierre Chaumard,general manager of Royal Mansour oncesaid, “Between mountain and sea, beforethe imperial cities… Marrakech thesublime.” This statement rings true whenyou first see the sun rise over the Atlasmountains, or when you take a momentto relish in the greenery of one of thecity’s many gardens. But, most of all itcan be applied to the countless, mindblowingspa experiences that now awaitin Morocco’s rose-pink city. nThegoldenbookROYAL MANSOURMARRAKECHTel: +212 529 80 80 80www.royalmansour.comMOSAIC PALAISAZIZA & SPATel: +212 524 329 988www.mosaicpalaisaziza.comAMANJENATel: +212 524 399 000www.amanresorts.com76 September 2013 dotwnews.com