Cinnamon City is the story of Miranda's purchase of an extremely dilapidated riad in the Medina of Marrakech; of the chaos that ensued; of the (entirely predictable) ensuing debacle with builders and two nefarious managers who absconded with all her money; of Miranda and her partner Dan's journeys through the north of Africa in white vans that break down as soon as they hit Tangiers; of a family Christmas from hell in a house with few modern conveniences; and of her love affair with all things Moroccan, and with Marrakech in particular. Miranda has a unique voice, her narrative is onward-bound and funny - generally at her own expense - and her descriptions of place and of beautiful objects are lyrical and evocative. Although the book is driven by the story of the restoration of the riad, it also contains information as to the history and culture of Marrakech, tips on where to eat, where to shop, and where to stay. This should be The book one takes on an exotic weekend abroad, particularly as thanks to its relative proximity and cheap airfares, Morocco, and Marrakech in particular, is fast becoming one of the most popular holiday destinations among us sun-starved Brits.