Discover Morocco
Discover Morocco
I found Morocco to be fascinating and wish we would have been able to see more. Fes, Agadir and the Atlas mountains were, unfortunately, missed, but our two weeks was well spent in other locations. I don’t like just to pass through a place without getting the local feel so we started off with 4 nights in Marrakech and, really, could have stayed longer as the heat made it difficult to do anything in the afternoon. Mornings were spent wandering the maze of streets and exploring the souks and Djemaa El-Fna in the evenings were perfect for the spectacle of Africa’s largest square.
I think my favourite part of Marrakech was the food and, in particular, the tajines. These Moroccan wonders seem to pop up everywhere and I had no apprehension concerning eating ‘street food’. The souks are amazing places to stock up on all the spices required to make these tajines at home but be careful of the street hawkers who have a ‘cousin’ or ‘brother’ that will give you a good deal. Afternoon snacks are abundant from the many fruit carts in the square and dinner can be had from any one of the dozens of stalls that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Djemaa El Fna truly has to be experienced to be appreciated.
On the road
We went to Morocco without a firm plan but knowing the basics of where we would like to go. Errachidia and Fes were on the list but we realised that these would need to wait for another trip as the coast was a higher priority. Thus, we opted for a coach instead of a train and set off for Casablanca. This port city was both amazing and disappointing at the same time. The art deco buildings and 1930’s influence is worth seeing and the Hassan II mosque is a must. On the other hand, Casablanca seemed to have a seedy side that may be the reason the very name conjures images of bandits and badly lit streets…worth a visit, though.
On the road again
We decided that our next stop would be Oulidia and we enjoyed two nights in a shabby motel ( the budget was an issue), relaxed on the beach and, once again, enjoyed some foodie delights. There was a tiny coffee and sandwich shop that made tuna paninis with freshly caught fish, and we had an amazing seafood dinner in one of the waterfront restaurants. A Moroccan man approached us on the beach and very politely enquired if we’d like to but some cinnamon coffee. My thoughts don’t usually turn to hot drinks when the temperature is hovering around 40 degrees but we thought we’d have a go…it was amazing. There’s not much to do in Oulidia as it’s mainly a fishing village and seems to be a getaway spot for Moroccans. There are no attractions other than the beach, and the water is cold but if you want to get away and relax, this is the place.
Essaouira
Getting to Essaouira from Oulidia was an issue as the buses only run a couple of times a week and not at great times. We struck a deal with a taxi driver and made our may down a mostly, gravel track through desolate towns and bleak terrain that was very interesting. How people manage to make a living when there is nothing but sand and rock to be seen is something amazing. Essaouira was our favourite of the trip and we found a hotel with self-catering apartments in the middle of town.
A trip to the market was in order and we purchased some fresh lamb and veg and had a go at a tajine (we didn’t have a tajine so we used, and I still do now, an old pot with a lid) and, while I’m better at them now, this one was great. Essaouira has some beautiful beaches and lovely Moroccan architecture but one of the biggest attractions is the fishermen and the fish and I found that I could spend hours there just watching the world go by.
