Sex in the city 2 & Marrakech, 12 years later but still so relevant.
- Adam Peter
- May 13, 2022
- 4 min read
In case you have forgotten why you wanted to come to Marrakech, here is a good reminder!
But the best part of this little journey in time is that the programme these ladies undertook is still at the top of the ranking why people put Marrakech on their bucket list. A nice stroll in the medina, a trip to the desert and a wonderful nightlife topped with a delicious sauce of service readiness.
This is not a review of a film but a review from a tourist point of view.
We leave the rest, such as rating, sales and awards :), in the hands of other specialists.
Why Marrakech?
In the end, it was lucky for Marrakech that neither Dubai nor Abu Dhabi permitted to shoot because, according to them, the content of the movie was too liberal and in sharp contrast with the local customs and culture.
The pity was that Marrakech did not get all the credit (it would be different now) but indirectly Marrakech was able to benefit in the long run and is the movie still a reference for the many fans of the film.
The arrival in (ABU DHABI ) MARRAKECH & the check-in in the hotel.
WHICH AIRPORT?
The first modernisation of the airport was built between 2006 and 2008 and is characterised by this fusion of modern and traditional styles. The second modernisation and increase of capacity took place in the year 2016 which increased the capacity from 4.5 M to 9 M. There are currently rumours of the construction of a second airport to serve the passengers for Marrakech.
WHICH HOTEL?
Several names have been mentioned, but only one is correct and that is Taj Palace, a hotel in the final phase of construction in 2009. This hotel with everything you could dream of in a hotel "Mille et Une Nuit" was the project of the billionaire "Kadiri" family and the total investment was around 80 M Euros. But the hotel was not successful and has had several management companies and owners (another story) and is known for the moment under the name Blue Diamond Sahara Palace. Back to the movie. You clearly will recognise the long entrance with the typical ground lanterns, the imposing domes, the chandelier and the typical lead colour green in the different settings. So with the evidence of the images below, there are no more doubts about where the shooting took place! It is a shame that for the moment it is not bookable and I do hope that in one or another way this unique property will be saved for the next generation.
Where in the Medina?
The part of the medina where the shooting took place is called Mouassine and has an entry directly from Jemaa el Fna. I have indicated it on a map (the zone between points a and b). In this excerpt ( part of a larger shot ) filmed in the Medina, you can see the typical ochre colour of the Medina, in the background, you can see the typical Bab (gate), the not-to-be-missed light that was created by the reed protection and the typical ironwork on the door from the shop. Apart from this, of course, you will also find perfect representations of the crafts. Lights and mirrors that, today, are exported all over the world.
Where took the dinner place between Carrie and Aiden?
This is so identifiable and so clear that not even an ounce of doubt is possible. One of the first luxury hotels in Marrakech that opened in 2000 and where I have enjoyed cocktails and chilled with friends on the lawn countless times. Time flies but the memories remain. We start with the staff's uniforms, a giveaway.
The dinner is in the bar not in the restaurant, you can see in the scene the coloured bottles on the bar furniture and you can also see the black chairs with the armrest and the lower tables and also the sofa behind Carrie. Next, we are in the central corridor that leads to the garden or the entrance/exit. The leitmotif that you will find in Amanjena throughout the complex is the typical arches that are the perfect proof. When Carrie leaves, you can also see the tall candelabras at the entrance/exit that are also and still are part of the hotel's decoration. This hotel is still fully operational and you can also make a reservation as a non-guest for a dinner or a cocktail. Highly recommended!
The desert.
We are talking about proof, and this is the most difficult as far as the desert is concerned because Abu Dhabi and Morocco have beautiful deserts.
So we have to go into the details. For me, the clearest proof that this is Morocco is the camel driver. You can hardly use a double, an extra or a stuntman here. So the vestimentary outfit of these camel drivers is Moroccan without any doubt. The saddling of the camels and the position of the camel driver are different, in Abu Dhabi on the back leg, in Morocco more in the middle. We have therefore been able to establish that this is Morocco. The combination of hotel lunch and desert on the same day is possible in Abu Dhabi but not in Marrakech. I have done this with a helicopter trip in 2013 but with a car impossible. We are, also, not talking about the desert of Agafay which is 28.7 km from Marrakech and became trendy later and is a stone desert and not a sand desert. So we all gladly agree on Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga.
Erg Chebbi,
Chebbi erg, one of the two most famous ergs in Morocco, appears in many images and films because of the magnificent expanse of its typical fire-orange dunes. Rising to 150m above the surrounding rocky desert, the dunes of Erg Chebbi cover a total area of 28km from north to south and up to 7km from east to west, along the Algerian border. There are many accommodation options today and that is the negative side effect you get when you are a popular holiday or excursion destination.
We'll talk about Agadir next week when we detail the best self-drive from Marrakech (almost 2000km).
Time for an ice tea,
Peter
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