Essaouira - originally called Mogador by the Portuguese, is a truly beautiful town to visit. With a much more diverse population historically with several ethnic groups including the Amazighs, Arabs, Africans, and Europeans as well as Muslim, Christian and Jewish people. The town was designed by a Frenchman in the 17th Century so has a more European feel to it.
The ramparts overlook the coast and were beautiful with huge waves crashing on the rocks. The old cannons are lined up and create an interesting vision of what has been in days gone before. On the other side you can look down into the wood souk with an amazing array of handmade woodware.
While we were on the ramparts waiting for the sunset, a group started singing and playing their instruments right beside us, drawing a big crowd. Everyone from young men to old men, with their rustic handmade instruments, came to join in.
While we were on the ramparts waiting for the sunset, a group started singing and playing their instruments right beside us, drawing a big crowd. Everyone from young men to old men, with their rustic handmade instruments, came to join in.
We could hear the official aid concert which was in a tent just across from our bedroom balcony. The atmosphere was amazing.
A Fish Meal
After watching the major parade, we returned for a rest before heading off for a meal at a recommended restaurant where we could have fish. Mine was cooked whole in tinfoil with veges and Brian tried Conger eel with apricots and almonds. He maybe regretted that next morning when he had a reaction, although he thoroughly enjoyed it!
Fishing Boats in the Harbour
Breakfast was on the other roof terrace. Fried egg, yoghurt, fresh warm bread, pancakes with strawberry and fig jam, along with freshly squeezed orange juice and black coffee.Mmmmm.....yum, very tasty!
We then wandered across to the waterfront where the fishing boats were in. We were lucky as apparently later in the day they would be putting out to sea for a week and we would have missed them.
The fishing fleet is packed into the walled boat harbour. Large wooden boats were lined up at the entrance and smaller wooden boats all painted blue jostled for a space in a higgildy piggildy mess.
Fishermen tended their nets and prepared for their next trip, while a few stalls set up on the wharf had a range of freshly caught sardines, and some long thin fish I can,t remember the name of. Also what looked like stingray .
Back at our car where we had left our bags in the boot, we reparked from the Bab carpark to the waterfront by the beach, and had a couscous at a small restaurant across the road from the beach before heading back to Marrakech.
We then wandered across to the waterfront where the fishing boats were in. We were lucky as apparently later in the day they would be putting out to sea for a week and we would have missed them.
The fishing fleet is packed into the walled boat harbour. Large wooden boats were lined up at the entrance and smaller wooden boats all painted blue jostled for a space in a higgildy piggildy mess.
Fishermen tended their nets and prepared for their next trip, while a few stalls set up on the wharf had a range of freshly caught sardines, and some long thin fish I can,t remember the name of. Also what looked like stingray .
Back at our car where we had left our bags in the boot, we reparked from the Bab carpark to the waterfront by the beach, and had a couscous at a small restaurant across the road from the beach before heading back to Marrakech.
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