Essaouira

Trip to the seaside.
Sparkling Atlantic Ocean; sandy beaches; white buildings with blue doors and shutters; laid back Medina and Souk with lovely shops and restaurants. What could be better? Not much. I loved it, not surprising the hippies came and stayed in the '60s!

We walked around the walled harbour and into the Medina. An old fishing town with a still working harbour with a great fish market and restaurants and fat contented cats and gulls.

We found a fish restaurant in a Riad. I have always wanted to stay in one and this was probably the nearest I will get. A lovely patio (as they are called in Córdoba, which of course is Moorish) with fountains full of rose petals and Spanish music playing. If we ever come back we will be coming here.
When I went to pay I spotted Jimi Hendrix pictures on the wall. I asked if her really stayed in Essaouira as legend has it. He replied 'Yes in room 13'. Who knows?

We thought we might be unlucky as we passed through fog on the way but Essaouira is renowned for wind so is a favourite surfing spot and the fog was blown away by the time we got there. Grace and John have been here for surfing and Agadir further down the coast. I think they hold the world surfing championships here and some world music festivals. It's also very arty, lots of small art and craft studios. The nearby island of Mogadir, seen in the background was Portuguese and the town itself was designed by the French in the 18th century, but it is still very Moroccan despite being a world away from the frenzy of Marrakesh.

We've had a lovely day and who knows maybe, with a bit of luck, we will be back one day.