Villa Maroc Essaouira

... then sat and Mohammad cooked for us a tradition Morrocan feast, we had soup again for starters with lentals and chick peas in it then he brought out some salad of tomatoes and peppers covered in olive oil and lemon, some bread and a big tagine of beef with olives and peas and green beans it was an amazing meal and both Ian and I stuffed our faces full. We are off tomorrow to fez on the train and it takes 7 hours so we need to get some rest.

... travel talk" and instead I learned of the following:<br><br>1. An amazing guy on Craig's list (?) who traded a red paper clip - via persistently "trading up" - for an entire HOUSE! (you can read all about it at his www.oneredpaperclip.com website).<br><br>2. Similarly on the "Twitter" front, incredible tales of a guy (a.k.a. "twitchhiker" who Twittered his way 'round the globe - soliciting plane, train and bus ticket ...

... did know them there after all. Anyway, the food in there was good &#8211; another tagine for me!!<br><br>We go back to the riad and say our goodbyes to Alex as she has to be up at 6 in the morning to catch her flight and our flight is not until tomorrow night. We&#8217;ve had great fun together, it really has been excellent. Alex has similar interests to us and likes to travel and experience things in the same way as us, so it has worked out perfectly. Bon voyage Alex.<br><br><br><br>

... 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...<br><br>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=)<br>

... and decided to stay perched on our rocks and let them navigate around us. Got back to the gite and relaxed for a while before the others arrived back. Had a great lunch out on the terrace - soup, pasta, lentils, salad. Wrapped my sleeping bag around me to stay warm. Packed up and headed down the mountain again, AJ and Sandra on mules, the rest of us hiking. Back in the bus again after collecting our bags from the cafe for ...

... 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...

... small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and wood-carving (using roots of the Tetraclinis tree), both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries. There was also many fancy pants doorknockers that regular readers know i have a fetish for. So far i have tried unsuccessfully three times to bargain for antique Fatima hand door knockers here. The town is quite small so if you get lost in the medina you can just walk straight in any direction ...

Yep, windy is right enough. Nicer than Agadir though, even though it is just as touristy really. There seems to be more to it than just the beach, there're the walls and the forts, and the kite- and wind-surfers on the beach are like a sideshow. There are basketball courts and football and volleyball pitches for Lewis to entertain himself with, and lots of shops and stalls for me to ...

... stroll, eventually stopping at a cafe-- Cafe Chalet de la Plage-- right next to the beach, where we ordered mint tea and sat for the next two hours. I got a terrific sunburn-- raccoon eyes from my sunglasses, red nose and forehead-- and it was completely worth it. Essaouira is a great place for contemplation, though next time I think I'd bring sunscreen. And a hat. Then it was time to trek to the bus station, and head on back to Marrakech. At the station ...

... ramparts fronting the seaward side of the town. These were constructed in 1770 and many of the original Spanish cannon are still in place. Where they have disappeared you can climb into the crenellation, dangle your feet over the wall, shelter from the wind and watch the seagulls playing in waves drawing windsurfers and kitesurfers to town. Built into the ramparts are the woodworkers shops. There are other things to buy in town but Essaouira is ...