Inside Morocco: Amber enters a Moroccan bizarre on Magill Rd in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
As the travel brochures say, exotic Morocco is a sensory overload. It's where Africa and Islam collide in true living colour. The great cities like Casablanca on the coast and Marrakesh further inland have been attracting travellers for centuries…
But you don't need your passport to get a taste of Morocco. The old Central Building in Magill Road, Stepney is the unlikely location for Inside Morocco - a business run by Kerrie Buivydas and Janet Belchamber who fell in love with Morocco after first visiting as tourists…
Kerrie went to Morocco 10 years ago as a backpacker and was so taken with the exotic culture she returned to live there.
Kerrie Buivydas, 'Inside Morocco': "When we first went to Morocco together … we were walking down the street of Fes and in Marrakech and people were calling out 'Kerrie, Kerrie, Janet, Kerrie'. What are you doing here together? And we know mutual people."
'Inside Morocco' is a scene reminiscent of the colourful bazaars and just like the ancient medinas, there's a surprise around every corner. The detail in the zelij work which is the local equivalent of mosaic is superb - the tables, bowls and urns all made of hand-made, hand baked and hand glazed tiles, cut and carved in intricate detail.
Janet Belchamber, 'Inside Morocco': "The signature thing about Moroccon ceramics is the meichor work - the beaten metal. It's a combination of silver and nickel. This piece has bone inlay and leather inlay as well."
At Inside Morocco, you could easily re-stock your entire kitchen and then decorate your dining room with the colourful lanterns made of recycled iron guttering which is hand-beaten and cut and molded to shape. Janet and Kerrie's buying trips see them return with shipping containers of genuine Moroccan craft - where possible purchased directly from the artisans themselves as part of Inside Morocco's fair trade policy. The event hire part of the business is also thriving with projects ranging from small backyard parties and private dinners to full-on corporate functions.
Janet Belchamber, 'Inside Morocco': "I think its really exotic. We are exposed to a lot of Asian culture here and we all love Asian culture but the aesthetics of the Moroccan stuff is quite different. I think a lot of our clientele have been to one of the parties that we've themed and so they've come in to have a look."
If you want to have a look for yourself pop into 149 Magill Road in Stepney. Inside Morocco is open seven days a week. And next Sunday they'll be taking part in Magill Road Alive. A section of Magill Road will be closed for a street market of food, wine, workshops and kids entertainment. It'll run from 11am until 3pm. If you have any further question please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Inside Morocco
149 Magill Rd
Stepney
Ph 08 8132 1414Magill Road Alive
Sunday 3 April
11am-3pmPublished 27th March 2011
