Dar El Qdima Essaouira

O.k. perhaps I best explain...

Coming up for air here after many adventures all across Morocco. Am presently in Essaouira - a most lovely seaside town along the Atlantic coast, about 3 hrs. southwest of Marrakech.

The techno explaination:

I arrived yesterday (well actually "today" as it's now Oct. 4, but I shall leave the date above as that's when I first arrived) and whilst ...

... it. I mean seriously, I’ve tried really hard to eat a prawn before and as soon as I get it in my mouth I’m gagging, no idea why, but I have actually given up trying. Of course I’ve no intention of stopping John getting the meal of his life, so I just figure I’ll get something later. Yassir gets the fish for us, Sardines, prawns, sole and some other fish that the name couldn’t be translated for – at an absolute bargain price and then we ...

... friend, which we all have a good laugh about.

It’s actually a lot cooler by the coast – it’s quite windy here, so we go shopping to get something a bit warmer to wear tonight. By the time we’ve done that, we go back to the riad, get changed and go out again.

We go to the restaurant where we are greeted by the head of the family and are told "please come in and sit down, you are very, very welcome". The whole family is in ...

... two hours. When we arrived, it was such beautiful! We walked to the defensive fortress built right on the cliffs, there are many cannons which looks ahead on the ocean. The waves are crushing on the cliffs under the fortress... And the wind of course! It knocks you down as if you were a puppet... Incredible feelings... Then we went to the deep part of the fortress, to the town itself. We visited ...

... br>the family or couple on vacation. Offering a host of amenties, including wifi, DVD players, spa
and massage services, a restaurant and club style bar, and a roof top pool that gives you
access to a view of the city you couldn't find elsewhere. Take a stroll through the narrow streets
of the medina and visit the many soukses (market places) that fill every corner of them.
Hear the ...

... there was closed due to snow and it would not be cleared for hours. so we went straight on to essasouria instead. it waw about 7 hours in the car. it wasn't too bad once we got to the coast though. it reminded me of the pch in california. we were driving right by the water and the atlantic ocean and had some great views. we stopped by agaadir for lunch and it was like any other modern resort town that you would see on a coast. We also saw a number ...

... of Arabia, and lots of people would travel back home to their families, so they put an old rattling bus back on the road and it came just at the right time. There was one seat left and it was next to a middle aged woman in a long dress so I wasn't too sure if it would be ok for me to sit there or would I get thrown out of the bus after only 50 meters, but I guess I was tolerable to the community ...

Bailed the Souqs of Marrakech for the coastal town of Essaouira. Arrived at 1120 and found Dar Afram with a little help from local Rasheed. Good sign, the people are more than friendly, asking for attention to their wares with a smile. Dar Afram proved an oasis! Three giggling maidens running the show whilst the owner`s off during the low season. Cosy room, hot showers and a terrific view from the fourth story terrace ...

... our guides. The 4WD gets a flat tyre, and while we stop to change it, the mushroom phenomenon, as noted by Dr Toni Oberhofer is observed. If you have read Chapter 1 of this drivel, then you will be aware that Toni Wan-Kenobi is the Jedi knight of all African overland bike travel. One thing he said to us when recalling his experiences on the continent was that even when you think you are in the middle of nowhere and you stop to fix the bike / have a drink / take a pee / whatever ...

... you to choose your fresh catch; which is then grilled and served with salad, fries, bread, and a drink. Seafood prices are set by the gov't and posted on a board outside the square. You just have to keep an eye on the weight. I really did not take the time to browse the art shops as I should. There were some great examples of small paintings on skin that would have made great gifts. Oh well ... sigh ... I'll just have to return with my lottery winnings!