We were pleased to leave early next morning for what appeared to be a long drive. However....the motorway was excellent to El Jadida and then the smaller road was also in excellent condition and we found the further we went the less traffic. We arrived in good time in Essaouira, (eza-wee-ra) found our accommodation Chem Bleu easily in the Medina, and again have a lovely balcony for not only good views, but hearing the music for the Gnaoua and World Music Festival which is on.
We wandered through the crowds avoiding the piles of wares they were selling from rugs on the ground, to find somewhere for lunch. A bit late… many cafes were shut ,but we found a place in a small Square and while we ate were serenaded by a trio playing violin like instruments and a tambourine.
We wandered through the crowds avoiding the piles of wares they were selling from rugs on the ground, to find somewhere for lunch. A bit late… many cafes were shut ,but we found a place in a small Square and while we ate were serenaded by a trio playing violin like instruments and a tambourine.
Chem Bleu - Great Location
Gnaoua Festival Gets Under Way
Later we saw 4 huge papier mache figures wheeled out and set up. I am not sure who they represented. One had table tennis bats and the other a cricket bat. We saw them in a procession a little later where they played a major part along with a papier mache camel.
There was a band playing their traditional wind instrument which sounds like an oboe with a similar reed Two characters on stilts sported huge sombrero hats....making them easy to pick out. And the music went on. The rather moth eaten looking camel that went with the 4 puppets was amusing. We could see the workings as people wheeled him through the crowd. A quite ingenious contraption.
The Music Festival is an annual event and the local traditional castanets, drums, stringed instruments a bit like rough violins are all played, while a singer sings a line and everyone replies.
We found groups would start around the town in corners, at the end of our alley to Chem Bleu….anywhere there was a space.
There was a band playing their traditional wind instrument which sounds like an oboe with a similar reed Two characters on stilts sported huge sombrero hats....making them easy to pick out. And the music went on. The rather moth eaten looking camel that went with the 4 puppets was amusing. We could see the workings as people wheeled him through the crowd. A quite ingenious contraption.
The Music Festival is an annual event and the local traditional castanets, drums, stringed instruments a bit like rough violins are all played, while a singer sings a line and everyone replies.
We found groups would start around the town in corners, at the end of our alley to Chem Bleu….anywhere there was a space.
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