Essaouira, Morocco (February 2024)

Essaouira is a port city and resort on Morocco's Atlantic coast. Its medina, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah. It was and still is a popular vacation destination for surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers from not only Morocco but also Europe.

On the way, we stopped at an Argon Oil Cooperative. We watched how they produce the oil and also the final products.

Right before we arrived in Essaouira, we made a stop at a vista point with a panoramic view to the city and the Atlantic Ocean.

As we arrived at Essaouira, we saw a walled city with a tall watch tower. Buildings painted bright blue stood out but harmoniously with the blue sky.

After passing through many narrow alleys, we reached the corner of the fort where the wild Atlantic Ocean welcomed us. The wind was strong and the waves were high.

 

We visited a Jewish Synagogue that is still in use. Morocco is proud of tolerating other religions while its national religion is Islam.

All the streets were filled with shops and restaurants. Since I am not a fan of shopping, I usually try to take some interesting photos, rather than looking at the products. 

The last stop of our local tour was a silver store. I was not interested in seeing the silver products, but the bright blue color decoration outside the building and the courtyard was impressive.

We chose to eat at one of the seafood restaurants and it was delicious.

During my free time, I walked around the town freely, but it was a pleasant walk wherever I went.

The most interesting scene was street art painted with bright colors. 

After all, Essaouira is a beach town. Some daring swimmers were in the water, but it was a bit too cold for swimming.

Our formidable four ladies posed for a photo before we left this beautiful town. 

 I am not sure if we will be able to return to this city but it was a pleasant day trip to Essaouira. - Jeffrey