To Essaouira

Essaouira is a port city and resort on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Its medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which were designed by European engineers. Old brass cannons line the walls, and there are ocean views. Strong “Alizée” trade winds make the city’s crescent beach popular for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

The drive to Essaouira.

Goats foraging up the Argan trees.

Lunch stop – mixed seafood grill which I shared with one other. Yum!!

We made a quick stop at a women’s co-op for making Argan oil products. Traditionally a very labour intensive job. First the outer husk is removed by breaking it open with a rock. This is used as food for animals. The the kernel is then removed, once again by hand with a rock. This hard shell is used for fuel for the fire. The kernel is the ground by hand with a stone wheel.

First morning in Essaouria, I went out before breakfast for a short stroll round the kasbah before it got busy.

After breakfast we went on a walk about with a local guide, through the Kasbah, to the rich market and wharf and finished up and a silversmith. Where I did buy some Berber silver.

This is the old grain market. The cobblestones are set on their edge so that any grain that fell between the cobbles could be swept up and used as it wouldn’t have been crushed underfoot. (they have been set in concrete in modern times)

The Portuguese built a fortress there in the 16th century, but the modern city’s origins lie in 1765, when Sultan Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah rebuilt it as a fortified port to boost Moroccan trade with Europe.

Brass cannon made in Barcelona a in 1781.

Just out wandering, things that caught my eye…