September 24, 2002 –
Marrakesh – Essaouira
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Olivia has to take the 5:15am train so she wake up
at 4am, thanks for me but she gives me her blanket so that’s fine. Maybe we will
see each other in India or in another country, as she likes traveling. For me it will be an early wake up because of the
cold temperature. After a good shower, let’s have a look to the post office
to send some postcards, after I need to change some cash (yes, yes, I have
to!!!) and internet to check the mails of a week and there are a lot. At 9:30, I am at the bus station where I take a bus
to Essaouira (3 hours). En route, we pass trees where locals put goats on it for
tourists. I saw that attraction last year. Même les chèvres grimpent aux arbres !! The arrival on Essaouira is great with the white
color of the city and the ocean behind and the forest before. This afternoon is dedicated to a soft visit of the
city, like in Marrakesh I am nearly at home as I remember well the visit of
last year. By the end of the afternoon I am seduced by a kind
of auction on a little square and there are a lot of people. Prices are
announced in rials and not in Dirhams as I thought (1 DH = 100 rials). The
“auctioneer” announces “Allah Krim” (Allah is generous) to ask for the first
price to the audience. I stay there quite a long time, trying to recognize
all the prices I can hear and estimate the value of the items shown before
me. I have an assistant, a young boy, Mohammed, 10 year old, who helps me. At one street corner, what a surprise to see two
familiar faces, Emanuele and Manuela on a mountain bikes. They are in
Essaouira as from Saturday. I am very pleased to see them again and we decide
to have dinner together at a fish stand near the ocean. Just before that, I
see a great sunset on the ramparts of the medina, great light. The sunset on the ramparts is wonderful. We end the evening at a café’s terrace with some
really good Italian ice-creams. Tomorrow, we should go to El Jadida together by bus,
we will see. Main expenses of the day : Internet: 20 DH (2 hours) Taxi Djema El Fna – Bus station: 10 DH Bus to Essaouira: 35.50 DH Hotel Chakbi: 50 DH (single) Evening meal: 30 DH |
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Other travels (Syria,
Jordan, Egypt, USA...) (Hotels, Transportation
timetables…) D1 :
Luxembourg – Paris – Casablanca D4 :
Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes D9 :
Tinehrir – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh D13 :
Refuge – 4167m –Tizi Ouanoums D14 :
Tizi Ouanoums – Amsouzert D16 :
Azib Likemt – Tacheddirt D17 :
Tacheddirt – Imlil – Marrakesh D19 :
Essaouira – El Jadida – Tangier D22 :
Chefchaouen – Casablanca D23 :
Casablanca – Paris – Luxembourg |
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Last update : January
2003
Contact : pindavid@hotmail.com