Doors 327 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part VII)
This week’s selection of door photographs continues on from last week’s solo doorscursion which I managed to squeeze in on one of the mornings of our trip, accompanied on the way by a little light rain.
One of the things that is notable about doors in Marrakesh is that it would seem that the occupants are extremely proud of their doors and door surroundings. Even though the streets are a little untidy with exposed wires and power lines, everywhere and an abundance of dust and rubble, much of it probably after effects of the destructive earthquake in September 2023, great care is taken to present a good-looking entrance to homes and businesses. Enjoy the doors:
Gateway to the traditional arts area, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Keyhole gateway, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Trash, cat, door, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Door within an industrial gate, Route Sidi Boudchich, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Stunning green panelled door and wall decorations to match, Trik Tikhizrit, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Fine studded door, with red surround, Trik Tikhizrit, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Studded patterned door and beautiful decorative tiles, Trik Tikhizrit, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Studded metal door within a door (for little people), Derb Bougaldone, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Old brick gateway, Derb Bougaldone, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025Classic wooden door with large bolt and keyhole doorway, Rue Douar Graoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
As a note to myself, I will probably do a post of the Marrakesh cats (and a door or two) and some other street scenes at some point, to give more of a taste of the place. I hope you have a great weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 324 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part V)
This week I am continuing with some doorscursions mostly concentrated at the southern end of the Medina of Marrakesh, not too far away from where our Riad was. There had been some light rain, which didn’t really matter, because it was short-lived and dried up pretty swiftly.
My description this week is fairly brief, because I find myself short of time to write this post. There is a bit more variation in the doors this time, and I even include some ghost doors (or, as some call them, phantom doors). Do you have a favourite? I know that I do:
A door with multiple panels which is sunk one step below street level, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
One doorway, two different doors, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Elegant door with a stunning tile surround, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Large arched door and sliding door cover, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Large ghost door, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Three studded doors in a side alley, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Wonderful door within a door, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Studded black door with small window above, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Concreted ghost door with brickwork exposed, perhaps a casualty of the earthquake, Tariq Sahrij Gnaoua, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Well, that’s it for this week and indeed for next week too, because I will be on a late summer family holiday in Madeira (Not many doorscursion opportunities, as the family have limited patience for my obsession).
May I wish you a very happy weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 323 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part IV)
For those of you who have been following this series of doors from Marrakesh, this week’s offering might feel a little bit ‘samey’, as they are more doors from the narrow lanes in the southern end of the Medina in Marrakesh. This whole area is enough to drive a door enthusiast into meltdown. It seems that each and every door is unique and very personal to the dwelling behind it, unlike in the suburbs of British (and other) towns and cities, where uniformity is more the norm.
Most of these doors were all photographed during an early morning walk on my own, which meant I didn’t need to tone down my enthusiasm to appease my wife and daughter, who get a little tired of my incessant fascination with doors. Keywords – Pinky-red walls, carvings, unique. I hope you enjoy them:
Narrow street and archway, Derb Benzina, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Tall slim studded door and doorway, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Plain door with bold and padlock and motorcycle, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Three different sized doors, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Door to the Didi Spa, Rue Bab Agnaou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Roof garden at ther Restaurant Al Khayma, Rue Bab Agnaou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Kasbah Cafe entrance and door, Rue de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A pair of doors, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A studded door with two door knockers, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Beautifully crafted gate in front of a door, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Archway entrance at the south of the Medina, Tariq Makhzen, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
So that’s it for another week. If you miss this, it doesn’t really matter, because there is plenty more to come in the coming weeks. My only hope it that it doesn’t get too boring – although things do hot up a bit before too long.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 322 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part III)
This week’s selection of doors were taken in the backstreets in the southern part of the Medina. Front doors are often quite fancy and elaborate, and might be the only sign that there is a dwelling at all. Many houses don’t even have windows facing out onto the street, and so the door becomes an important statement.
The narrow labyrinthine streets area wonderful pinky red colour, but quite imposing and stark, punctuated by these amazing doors. Occasionally you get to peek behind a door that might be open or ajar, and a beautiful, colourful, often tiled interior awaits.
This selection includes a range of different styles and sizes of doors, each one special in its own way. I hope you enjoy them:
A pair of markedly different doors side by side and a lamp shadow, Derb Oualidine, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Metal door and plant pot, Derb Oualidine, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Tiled portico, stone surround, tile decorations, carved wooden frame, studded doors and two beautiful cats, this door has it all, Ksibt Nhass, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Is this a door within a door? Ksibt Nhass, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A step up to a beautiful carved wooden door and frame, Ksibt Nhass, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Blue door with a face, Derb Oualidine, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Grand doorway with tiled portico and stunning carved door and surround, Ksibt Nhass, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Door gate, Ksibt Nhass, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Symmetry and tiles on this door of Riad Les Reves de Marrakech, Rue Errachidia, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A nicely decorated metal door, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
More of the same next time, although I hope to provide a bit more context around these doors to provide more of a sense of place. While these backstreets were generally fairly quiet, some of the more touristy places were so full of bustle, and I hope to get this across in posts to come. That’s it for now, have a great weekend.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 321 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part II)
This selection of doors is presented in chronological order, following our first walk in the streets of Marrakesh, walking north from our hotel (featured last week) towards the centre of the Medina.
Our first impressions were very much shaped by the bustle of the city. Bright light, dusty streets, so many people walking the streets dodging the motorbikes and scooters that are the dominant form of transport through the narrow and windy streets. You will spot that the walls of Marrakesh, known as the Red City, are pinky-red in colour due to the local stone and clay, rich in iron oxide employed in the construction of the ancient city, and still used today. You will get used to this ubiquitous colour through the passage of these posts.
Marrakesh is a Thursday Doors dream, although it is not just doors, but arches and more generally the architecture that are so attractive. I hope you enjoy these first steps into the city as much as we did:
Minaret and supported walls (earthquake damaged) of the Moulay El Yazid Mosque, Place My Yazid, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A cell tower disguised as a palm tree, complete with a stork nest (real) on the top, Rue Arset El Maach, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Cafe Tamrakcht with side door and open front, Rue de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Studded wooden door and decorative surround, Bab Agnou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Stunning carved entrance and keyhole doorways, Bab Agnou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Double archway, Bab Agnou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Bab Agnou city gate, Rue Oqba Ben Nafaa, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Iron/door with decorations, Passage Bab Agnaou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Keyhole gateway in a city wall, Rue Oqba Ben Nafaa, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Modern studded door, Passage Bab Agnaou, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Tatty door at No 37, Derb Oualdidine, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
It feels wonderful to revisit these doors and our trip to Marrakesh back in January, it was a great way to recharge our batteries and put us in a good place to tackle 2025. There will be plenty more doors next time and for some considerable time, I fear it might get a little samey or boring, but hope not. Have a great weekend all.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 320 – Doors of Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025 (Part I)
In January this year, my wife and I decided to enjoy a winter break in Marrakesh, as we were desperate for some sun after a poor summer in 2024. Key to our choice of destination was that we could fly from Bristol airport, which just makes things so much easier for us. We brought our daughter along with us too, as she was on a break from University.
We hadn’t done too much research before the trip and were open to a wholly new experience. I had been to Egypt many years ago when I was in my late teens, but otherwise North Africa was something of a mystery to be discovered.
Marrakesh is a busy, dusty, and ancient city, with an incredible culture and heritage, and although our stay was short, we took in so many sights and activities. Of course, we were presented with thousands of doors, and in all my travels in the UK and abroad, I don’t think I have seen so many doors worthy of sharing on Thursday Doors. I expect this is going to be a long series of posts from Marrakesh.
In this first post, I will start with our hotel called Les Borjs de la Kasbah, a riad (a traditional, multi-story house or palace built around a central courtyard or garden), which was located at the south of the Medina, the old walled part of the city.
Floor plan of Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
This hotel had been lovingly restored over a period of four years by local craftsmen from a complex of six small town houses (dars) and one riad. The restoration included traditional doors and balcony windows, as well as tiles, fountains and other details. I hope you enjoy this collection of doors and get a small sense of the traditional style of the riad.
Small courtyard off the main courtyard, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Restored bedroom door,Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Storage room door, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A room that opens into the central courtyard, Les Borjs del la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Another room that opens onto the courtyard – not a door in sight, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
A third sitting room opening into the courtyard (ignore the TV, we did), Les Borjs del la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
The main courtyard with plenty of doorways, just no doors, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Second floor stairway to the roof garden, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Roof garden view with the Atlas Mountains in the distance, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
The swimming pool area, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
Stunningly recreated balcony windows overlooking the pool, Marrakesh, Morocco, January 2025
This has been a deliberately gentle introduction to Marrakesh before getting into some hard core doors over the coming weeks. The hotel was the perfect base for some lengthy walks, mostly northwards, to some of the tourist hotspots, but the long walks meant that there were an awful lot of back streets and doors to get through on the way.
I thought I’d leave you with an earworm, that naturally I have in my head, because of the district we stayed in. Rock the Kasbah!
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 319 – Doors of Godalming, Surrey, March 2025 (Part V)
Are we really in August already? Life canters on with little respite, which makes writing a blog all the more important, taking time to think, reflect and write before returning to the maelstrom.
This is the last in a series of doors from Godalming, a small town in Surrey, which I visited on a work trip back in March this year. Although I had heard and was aware of the town most of my life, it wasn’t until my work took me there that I visited the place. I am super-lucky that one aspect of my job takes me all around the country to stay in towns and cities, many of which I get to visit for the first time. I chronicle my ‘tours’ through photographing doors and street art (if there is any), which feels like a nice way to remember a place. Enough chit-chat – on to this week’s doors. I hope you enjoy them.
An unusual door with a suspended canopy, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
‘Please shut the gate’ door, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Faux Regency door to a closed down retail outlet with a lot of notices, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Black door with a large oval window, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Black coat of arms embedded in a wall in Pound Lane, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Two doors in a timber frame building, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Five sets of doors on a timber frame building, Bridge Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Large timber frame building with tiered floors and shop doors, High Street Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Small red door with a flood wall built in front of it, Westbrook Road, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
The red door, was the last one I photographed in Godalming and was from a small cottage situated directly adjacent to the brook (West Brook?), which was obviously exposed to frequent flooding, hence the brick flood wall blocking the entrance. I think that there was another entrance on the side of the building that was a more practical access to the cottage.
I very much enjoyed my night stopover in Godalming, and would recommend a visit if you happen ever to be in the area.
Something a little different next time.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post.
Doors 318 – Doors of Godalming, Surrey, March 2025 (Part IV)
Rather remarkably, I have remembered that Dan is taking a Thursday Doors holiday this week, but I have decided to press ahead with this week’s selection as I have a little bit of time (last night in fact) to write this post and I might as well make hay while the sun shines.
This is the fourth and penultimate selection of doors from Godalming in Surrey, photographed on a work trip overnight stay. This week’s doors are mostly from the High Street running through the centre of the town. Enjoy.
Beautiful timber frame building with Specsavers shopfront and dull grey door, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Timber frame house and wonky black door, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Wonky black door, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Tudor archway, Crown Court, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Yard double door and archway dated 1836, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Grand entrance to The King’s Arms and Royal Hotel, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
A roof door at The King’s Arms and Royal Hotel, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Classic door with porch and twin trees, High Street, Godalming, Surrey, March 2025
Godalming High Street, like so many other high streets in English towns, is stuffed full of little gems and wonderful history, heritage and architecture. It is all too easy to keep your head down and not look at what is around you. Having an interest in doors acts like a portal (no pun intended) into this world of curiosity of your surroundings, and it has certainly prompted me to look at the places where I happen to be through a different lens. One more selection and then I move on to another place. See you next time.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Doors 317 – Doors of Godalming, Surrey, March 2025 (Part III)
A quick one this morning as I haven’t left myself much time to write. This is the third selection of doors from Godalming, a small town in deepest Surrey, a place that on the face of it is reasonably affluent, and definitely has some lovely buildings dotted about the place. I hope you enjoy these doors:
Blue door and high chimney stacks, Church Street, Godalming, March 2025Yellow door, Church Street, Godalming, March 2025Blue door and covered passage, Church Street, Godalming, March 2025Door with large hinges to St Peter and St Parl’s church, Church Street, Godalming, March 2025A pair of inset doors, Church Street, Godalming, March 2025A rather nice blue door with fanlight and lamp, Church Street, Godalming, March 2025Unusual wide and low door, High Street, Godalming, March 2025A classy old studded door, High Street, Godalming, March 2025Shopfronts and doors in the early evening, but it is those windows that are really special, High Street, Godalming, March 2025
I rather like this selection of doors and the range of periods, but that last building is a beauty in my view. Here is an excerpt from a website called Geograph, about the building:
Godalming High Street: Nos. 74-76
I was puzzled by this building. A date-stone says 1663, but at first glance I thought that unlikely – probably because I was taken in by the honeycomb glazing bars.
Later, dipping into the Surrey volume of ‘The Buildings of England’ I found Ian Nairn having one of his rants: ‘Nos. 74-76 . . . coming right at the end of the C17 Artisan tradition of brickwork in Surrey, and a deplorable end too . . . All sense of proportion, and even of picturesque outline, is gone’. He makes the useful point that the window design is of 18th century origin – lifted from one of Batty Langley’s pattern books.
Nairn goes on to concede that (along with No. 80, somewhat similar) Nos. 74-76 are ‘good fun to have in a town’ – even if they lack architectural merit. My own view would be that brick-built structures dating from the 1660s are pretty rare in a small-town context, and we should be grateful for those that survive.
So That’s it for this week, more to come from Godalming next time.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Natural adventures 