Andre Balazs, hotelier

Morocco, North Africa I loved the severity of the landscape. The people are so warm and friendly. Get a guide because the cities, such as Fez, are very maze-like. Ours took us to a tannery and we saw men who step in chemicals and stamp on the hides to remove the hair.

Discovery: In Marrakesh, go to a restaurant called Yacout. It’s in a small palace in the center of the city and you enter through an unmarked door. The interior is all tiled and ornately decorated. Order the tagine, which is a classic Moroccan dish--a lamb and vegetable stew that comes in a clay pot. It’s divine.

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“Where Have You Been Lately?” compiled by Monica Corcoran