Villa Argana 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 ...

... everyone, collect our luggage from the riad and walk to the bus stop.

We arrive back in Marrakech around 10pm – and are greeted by the usual crowd hassling you to offer you taxi services. We could barely get off the bus for people thrusting things at us and shouting for our attention. John is trying to get our bag and he engages in conversation with one of the taxi drivers, for some reason one of the other taxi drivers seems to think that John is his cusomter and ...

... and then walk round the walls of the city and the fortification and then we make our way over to another of Alex’s friends shop – Alex is greeted warmly, she introduces us as her friends and we too are welcomed warmly – the chairs come out and mint tea is on its way. A couple of Alex’s other friends arrive at the shop and we all sit for a while chatting – these particular friends speak good English, so we are able to join in ...

... A popular old Russian song by Alla Pugachova, the light suddenly went down low for a couple of seconds and the show was over... It looked like synthesizer of a band member was burnt by electricity failure=( It was so pity...

So, as far as we ended our drinks, we went back through the night city, which looked wonderful at night... Then again we spent some time by the pool with some wine=)

... need assistance planning your day (perhaps a hike to explore the lovely


Atlas Mountains?) or a babysitter for the kids so you can have a night out alone on the town.


The list of entertainment possibilities is endless.
Both within and outside the hotel's walls. Pace through the courtyard of Heure Bleue Palais
and let the gorgeous palm trees and breath taking fountain put you ...

... lovely room in Moroccan style. I felt like I'd never want to leave again. My first stop was Il Mare. A restaurant right behind the city walls but high enough to look over them. Ten days before Christmas, I was sitting outside on the roof terrace, enjoying a good lunch with a view of the ocean. It was blue skies all over and just pleasant. Was it really 3 days since I was walking through the snow...

... atmosphere heat up. Below us the square was absolutely packed with people, food and spice stalls, snake charmers, dancers and all sorts of entertainment. Bright lines of lights ran in parallel lines across the square, and huge plooms of smoke were rising up from where they were cooking, drowning out the crowd creating a hazy glow until the wind blew it away. We sat there mesmerised by the sights, amazing smells, and tried to take in the crazy atmosphere ...

... into their shop), demanding why you are angry with the people (as one shopkeeper in Ait Ben Haddou did to Polly when she politely declined to enter his shop), or putting their arm around you and insisting you are their best friend. Steve says half of Essaouira's shopkeepers are stoned, which is why the deals are so good; they're just too damned relaxed to care. But I must say it is because I feel my interactions with people - and most noteworthy, women - have been so much ...

Arrived still feeling the pains of the Jebel Toubkal effort, and decided to spend at least 3 days here doing nothing. So after crashing at the cheap Hotel Smara, every day was taken up with first looking for something to eat, then I wondering around town. Essaouira has become very touristy and for a good reason, it has a fantastic varied coast line and the medina it large ...

... the telly on the way, at somewh**e selling breakfast. (France - nul points; oh dear).   The parcel actually went through quite smoothly. Unfortunate, as this left us with little to do for the rest of the day.  Except marvel at the numb** of working aged men lazing on the beach all aft**noon.   W**e these people customs offic**s too?  A job working 2 hours a day with a 3-day weekend is a job Mr R feels well qualified to do.  He wants to know wh**e he can apply. In ...