During our adventure in Marrakech, we decided to see more of this magic country and headed down the west coast of Maroc to the seaside town of Essaouria! An ancient white washed city fortified with huge walls, turrets, cannons and the sea! It was a place to chill out and sit in the warm sun whilst waiting for our lunch! Philly caught me on camera dozing before I wakened to smell of my sizzling seafood platter offering prawns, 3 types of fish, calamari! It was too delicious and at 80 Dirhams, a gift! (Approx. $9) We could have easily hired a car and driver but opted for a bus – even more lay back! The Atlas Mountains were always on our left framing the flat desert like countryside that lay ahead of us. The geography changed regularly from the red desert lands to rolling hills dotted with simple mud brick villages. We mooched around this coastal town and enjoyed the day thoroughly! We visited Co-Ops where the ladies ground the nut of the Argan tree to make the wonderful oil to put on your face or eat.......goats actually climb up these trees to munch on the nuts they are so good. Another time we headed up into the Atlas Mountains to see the waterfalls and the ancient Berber villages. These people are so warm, so traditional and so magnificent. We could see the snow on distant mountains and the air was chilled and crisp. I actually walked on a "stick bridge" with water many metres below.......ME!! I keenly dislike heights where I can see underneath me.......but it was just like being in an India Jones movie! The Ourika Valley is not so far and very doable for a day trip. I love the traditions of this land, I love the healthy food they eat and I love the general feeling Morocco gives you……it is a land very diverse, filled with smiling faces, even when times are tough……the mud huts and local markets make you realise how simple life can be without all our Western trappings……you really don’t need it to be happy! You can read that in their faces………
I said I would return but did not realise it would be so soon and do you remember that old song.....about taking the "Marrakech express"? I sang that song for days………Whilst the trains in Morocco leave much to be desired, (make SURE you take 1st class, even that is dodgy and the toilets on the train!! Well I ain't even going into that one!!) we came back to explore the ancient city of Fes only 3 weeks later…………the medina here is over 1200 years old and was the capital of Morocco at one time. Its narrow alley ways were dark and you would often get lost…they say there are 9,000 small streets in Fes………I believe them. We discovered more of Morocco’s delicious food and did a cookery course for a day with a private family in their home……it was an honor to be included within their family and the food was wow factor plus!!! I look forward to seeing Karima and Fouad during another visit!!
On the way north we stopped in Casablanca and OF COURSE went to Rick's Cafe from the iconic movie. We had cocktails and a fabulous dinner there. We were seated next to the piano and yes........yes, he played "that" song! It was all just so amazing!! We also visited the HUGE mosque in Casablanca.......I have never seen such a mammoth building with such intricate carvings and decor.......all jaw dropping stuff!
I feel in my heart that Morocco will be a “regular” haunt for the future!!
Morocco is just SOOOOO beautiful.........XXXX
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