Feb 5, 2008 - Thanks for messages

We are in an apartment in Essouaria. The kids are rejoicing because they can have cornflakes for breakfast and 2 minute noodles for dinner. Thanks for all the messages you have all been sending, its great to hear from home. We thought we should share this one from our neighbour. Hi Stevos just to let you know there was a big bonfire in your back yard started by your hippy housesitters feral mates and it got away but the fire brigade put it out before it got to the house ... bad news about the studio however Murray, especially as you only...

Dec 30, 2007 - Essaouira

Well perhaps Essaouira wasn't that great a choice for NYE but then again it's possible that nowhere in Morocco was going to have the street party and fire-works I crave for the occasion. I gave up on the main bar, Taros, at about 11:30pm as it was filling up with male Moroccans. Had a final vodka in my room and turned in for the night. That disappointment aside I still love Essa and could easily spend a long time here. The beach is fantastic and puts many if not all of the ones I came across in the Balkans to shame, the food is good (not...

Jul 29, 2007 - Essaouira

I LOVE Essaouira!! Marakesh was nice, but I didn't get a vibe from it and it was so hot...i am not exagerating...on july 27 marrakech was low of 78 and high of 112 and we didn't have air conditioning!! We didn't sleep the whole time we were there...we would take a shower and try to go to bed with a wet towel or wet clothes on and then within an hour or so wake up baking...the only relief you could get was to get in the shower again but that was so short lived that we just gave up and sweated it out. What were we thinking getting a place...

Oct 26, 2006 - Tornedo Tarifa!

Welcome to the most southern place in Spain - Tarifa. Tarifa is a coastal town infamous for being the number one destination for professional and amateur kite boarders and wind surfers alike. The place howls with strong winds most days so its ideal conditions for the sport. The reason for me arriving here has nothing to do with my ambition to kite board but because its the closest and cheapest port across to Morrocco. However luckily for me the consistent rain paid dividens as there was no wind as it poured down, ample oppurtunity to sample...

Sep 20, 2006 - Essaouira

Hice una parada en este pueblo costero porque me lo recomendaron un par de veces en Marrakesh. Es un pueblo simpatico, todo amurallado y bien pintado, inicialmente poblado por los fenicios, pero se quedo como un puelito hasta que los franceses lo agrandaron y amurallaron. Ahora esta lleno de tienditas y restaurantes. Se puede caminar a todos lados y no hace tanto calor. Bastantes turistas europeos, parece que se ha puesto de moda ultimamente. Apenas llegue me encontre en la calle con un amigo espanyol con el que habiamos sacado juntos las...

Jun 16, 2006 - Essaouira et la mer

Essaouira (L'ancienne Mogador) est en bord de mer, après la fournaise de Marrakesh un peu de fraîcheur fait du bien... Très belle plage en sable avec des chaises à louer à prix décent ( en absolu planétaire évidemment...). Medina agréable et pas de trop de vendeurs insistants, le paradis quoi et les coups de soleil qui viennent avec... On a pas eu besoin d'amputer la jambe de Debbie finalement suite à son infection au henné, il devait y avoir de l'acide de batterie dans la solution pour que les couleurs prennent bien.... Beaucoup de poisson...

May 31, 2006 - Essaouira

Essaouira is an old coastal town on the the atlantic, the old sea ramparts still remain. All the building in town are whitewashed with blue shutters. It is quite touristic here but more mellow than other towns. Much of Orsen Wells film "Othello" was filmed here. Good place to read and shop. prices are better here than in Marrakesh.

May 8, 2006 - Essaouria

We have been in Essaouria for 2 days now and we are really enjoying it here. A very nice town right on the Atlantic Ocean, it boasts the best beach in the country and is way more laid back compared to the other towns weve stayed. The vendors don't hassle you and you can walk around in swim suits without getting gawked at. The medina is full of nice cafes with patios to sit in the sun and watch locals set up their stands. Or you can stroll down the beach and get in a pick up game of futbol, ride a camel, or watch the dozens of windsurfers....

May 1, 2006 - Gifts from the Sea - Essaouira Morocco

Our final destination in Morocco was the coastal village of Essaouira. What inspired us most in this ancient walled village was the activity surrounding the fishing port. Each day we spent a few hours at the port amazed by the variety of fish taken from the ocean as well as the people and activities involved in the exploitation of the sea's gifts. We were fascinated with the fishing boats themselves which seemed to have personalities of their own with stories of storms, treasures, pirates, gigantic fish and much more buried deep within...

Apr 28, 2006 - Essaouira, Morocco

So I moved to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. On the bus there we stopped at a small village and a man wearing a turbin and carrying a rifle got on board. I was a little nervous, but he only asked that I salute Allah and kiss his feet while denouncing George Bush -- Not A Problem ----- and before you knew it we were back on the road to the coast. It was windy, sunny, cool and MUCH more laid back in Essouira than Tangier or Marrakesh. Good, because I needed a break from EVERY MOROCCAN I MET trying to get money from me. I stayed in the house...

Jan 24, 2006 - Essaouira

I packed up my bag and headed off to the little town of Essaouira which is a couple of hours drive up the coast from Taghazout. The scenery on the way there was much the same as around Taghazout - dry scrub and small trees on stony red land. As we drove we passed only a few small towns but for approx 20 kms in the middle of nowhere we passed lots of people who had set up little roadside stalls selling Huile D'Argan - oil from the argan trees that grow in this area. I was told by a bloke on the bus that these trees only grow in...

Nov 7, 2005 - Essaouira

05 November- took a four hour bus ride along the coast, passing Shanes' surfing spot north of Agidir, and getting off the bus at Essauira. Hired a guy with a cart to wheel our luggage along the road and into the Medina (Brian has hurt his right hand) for the princely sum of 10 dirhams and found Riad Emeraude. A lovely restored Riad (old family home of 4 or 5 floors surrounding a tiled courtyard and with rooftop terraces). Our room is whitewashed with blue doors and with painted flowers- very pretty. The medina is all narrow alleys and side...