September 24, 2002 – Marrakesh – Essaouira

 

 

 

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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D1 : Luxembourg – Paris – Casablanca

D2 : Casablanca – Rabat

D3 : Rabat – Meknes

D4 : Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes

D5 : Meknes - Fes

D6 : Fes

D7 : Merzouga

D8 : Merzouga – Tinehrir

D9 : Tinehrir – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh

D10 : Marrakesh

D11 : Marrakesh – Imlil

D12 : Imlil – Toubkal refuge

D13 : Refuge – 4167m –Tizi Ouanoums

D14 : Tizi Ouanoums – Amsouzert

D15 : Amsouzert – Azib Likemt

D16 : Azib Likemt – Tacheddirt

D17 : Tacheddirt – Imlil – Marrakesh

D18 : Marrakesh – Essaouira

D19 : Essaouira – El Jadida – Tangier

D20 : Tangier

D21 : Tangier – Chefchaouen

D22 : Chefchaouen – Casablanca

D23 : Casablanca – Paris – Luxembourg

 

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Last update : January 2003

Contact : pindavid@hotmail.com