Some of you might remember this entry from our LA wedding in May. About 4 months later, in September this year, we made our way to Marrakech, Morocco, for our wedding party. We wanted to bring our friends and family together, for the first time, to celebrate this special event with us. I had never been to Morocco before, but thanks to my french family we found Riad Pachavana. In this riad, we could host our guests for the weekend. We arranged a simple wedding ceremony on their rooftop and danced and dined to Moroccan drums throughout the night. It was the most magical weekend of my life, the scenery, the people, the food and our hosts.

I would love to share some photos with you on some of things I came to enjoy, from Dublin airport, all the way to Marrakech and back. Here we go!

Early risings can be tough, I like to dress comfy and find a healthy treat at the airport to make it a little easier. I usually bring some homemade flapjacks or protein bars with me, and pick up something like a green juice. 

Marrakech. It is said Marrakech is called the red city because of the terracotta-coloured buildings, walls, alleys and plazas made with red clay and chalk. The light is beautifully reflected and makes the city shine.

Our first lunch. Moroccan salad selection; carrots, aubergine, pumpkin and spices. A masala with lots of cumin. 

Colorful almond pastries for dessert. 

Moroccan salad selection at Jardin Majorelle. 

My dessert of choice; sliced oranges with orange blossom water and cinnamon.

Loved seeing people interact on the street, the liveliness, the passion for handicraft; and the fruit, spices and herbs in every corner. 

The peacefulness of our riad.

The carefully selected yoga spot of the weekend; surrounded by sky, petals and flower pots.

And so it was time to be the groom and bride for the second time around this year. 

On our last day we went to a SPA to enjoy hammam, peeling and relaxation. We chose the SPA "A thousand and a night" which had this beautiful ceiling. The hammam was steaming warm, the peeling rough, and the tea in our bathrobes a real sweet treat. 

Namaste Marrakech, I can't wait to meet you again. 

During our stay in LA we tried some pretty amazing Southern California food. LA is world-famous for its extraordinary food scene. I remember learning all about sushi and California in this episode of Stuff You Should Know. 

My sister and I are always especially happy to try new health food cafés and restaurants. In some cities, these places can be tricky to find - but I love how they are everywhere around LA.

I keep dreaming about all these places, so I decided to compile a little list of my favourites:

Nekter Juice Bar
Ever since I went to Brazil I've been completely obsessed with Açaí bowls. Sadly, it's really difficult to find outside of the Americas. The Açaí berry is native to Brazil, it grows on the açaí palm in the Amazonas and it resembles the Northern blueberry. 

To get the real taste, this stuff has to be made with freshly frozen berries. An incredible energising and healthy breakfast or snack - my dream is to live around the corner from this place.

Nekter also does Pitaya bowls, they are naturally pink and the taste is just wow! 

Urth caffe
Urth can be found all around LA. We had just been to the Hollywood hills and were driving back down to Venice in the rain, desperate for lunch.

We found Urth, and were lucky to get a table in their garden. I felt so hungry and cold that I ordered all the things. Green tea boba made with Almond milk. A hot jasmine tea. Bread (it was included, but still). And I tell you this, in Cali you can definitely find some of the best kale salads. This one was not an exception. 

Kreation
The last day we went stand-up paddle boarding! We started at Mother's beach in del Rey and went out in the Marina. We paddled next to seals and sea lions that were sleeping on the boats and piers. When we got back, I tried some yoga moves. If paddle boarding is kind of easy, SUP Yoga is way harder and challenging for the balance. Let's say this - the water was warm. :)

After our paddle tour, we went to Kreation for some food. The menu was remarkable, so many juices and smoothies to choose from. I had a Goji açaí bowl, tabbouleh salad and their green chlorophyll water. 

True food
I adore this place. We went here twice and everything we had was simply amazing. Quinoa burgers, kale salads, vegetable rice bowls, homemade pizza, guacamole, hummus, edamame dumplings - you name it. So many choices, and everything was equally fresh and delicious. 

Some other places that I really loved too are Sweet Rose Creamery, Intelligentsia Coffee and Moon Juice Shop. All are worth trying if you're visiting..

I love Mexican food. The creaminess of avocado, the crispy tortilla chips and the hint of spice but a fresh addition of herbs. The downside is that it tends to be quite heavy.

Foods that give you that very full feeling are best eaten occasionally. Thus I invented my own version of chilaquiles, but with a healthier touch. That is, without any sour cream, meat or beans.

Chilaquiles
To serve two, you will need

500 g tomato passata
2 handfuls tortilla chips
3 splashes tabasco
1 handful fresh coriander (leave some for decoration)
6 cherry tomatoes, chopped
3 eggs
1 avocado, sliced

Start with chopping the cherry tomatoes. Place a frying pan over medium heat. Add the passata and tabasco and simmer for a few minutes. Make sure to stir it occassionally so that it doesn't burn. Add the coriander and chopped tomatoes to the tomato sauce and then add one layer of tortilla chips. Gently push the chips down in the pan and create three holes where you crack the eggs, one by one. Cover with a lid and let cook for 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile slice the avocado. When the eggs are cooked to your desired consistency, remove from heat and decorate with the avocado slices and some extra coriander.

Serve immediately! Goes well with a green juice or some lemon infused water.