Marrakech, Essouira, Marrakech, Sunday March 23 2008 Sony Ericsson Models Landscapes At 8:30 am we left with
Mohamed, a English-speaking taxi driver who took us to a large taxi to the hotel on Friday. We had already agreed dh
price 800 after haggling enough. I leave the phone number
if you want to contact him 00212-71378842 .
the hotel, we went to the Menara Gardens
. Yolanda and Izan there advantage to climb
camel (pictured left).
With the Atlas mountains as a backdrop (not shown in the photos because of the clouds), not surprising that these gardens are one of the most photographed places in Morocco. It is also a popular place to go
picnic. The best time to visit is late afternoon, when most tourists are gone or like this time, early in the morning,
when there is not anyone. The Menara, built in the XII century
of Almohads was conceived more as a farm, that about gardens. The land contains more than 30,000 olive trees around a pond. The old flag (
menzeh ) was built later, in 1870, and from the first floor balcony you can enjoy wonderful views of the vast expanse of water and mountains in the distance.
Admission: Free (gardens), there is an entrance fee for the pavilion.
After that we got to the road towards Essouira
, to 179 km from Marrakech
a dual carriageway and one lane in each direction
(very poor, but acceptable).
The best way to reach
Essaouira from Marrakech
is '
grand taxi' but there are s ervices
coach private companies depart daily from the bus station in Marrakech
.
On the road leading to the Atlantic Ocean can find some Berber women cooperatives that work with a particular olive to be found in the trees
argan (pictured left). This old plant, is endangered and lives only in this region of Morocco, is also protected by UNESCO
. In this olive nut is extracted,
with a stone mortar, an oil that contains an infinite series of properties (the process is shown in the photo at right), including being a potent anti
free radicals for skin care. It is also used for food and flavor reminiscent of almonds. Coincidentally
miles before reaching them,
Mohamed told us about the 'fantastic' oil properties Argan
, and took us to one of these cooperatives, which of course led commission if you buy something (like all
taxi drivers).
A few kilometers from Essaouira
, about 8, there is a viewpoint which is the coastal city, as shown in the photo on the left.
One way or the other, was past 12:30 pm when parked in
Essaouira, just beside the port in the booths that once made the restaurant on the square, so the taxi driver led us to one of these houses (they are all equal and have the same), where the fish and seafood exposed fresh (right) for you to choose what they want to eat grilled, according
parts and weight, make you a price for the whole meal including drinks. I chose
1.100 kg lobster, king prawns
two red, four galleys, nearly 1
kg of shrimp and a dab of 1 kg
. with salad and drink has asked dh 1000
and final
stood at 400 for everything.
Then I realized that the driver was hiding in the dugout
behind a 'wall' of
board, on a bench that was the role of chair and table, eating
seafood, which I guessed was his 'commission' for taking us as customers ...
Anyway, so
read the forums, finally paid the price is good.
Also, Mohamed
good convinced us (sure it was necessary as was a new city for us) to hire a guide for city tour, which theoretically speak English (if that's what you could say speak), the
which was concerned only lead to two stores that we try and buy something (failed) and little else, not even deign to teach the most beautiful of the city walls that protect the sea. So we had to look for life so you go on to explain some history of the city.
Essaouira, a coastal town XVIII
century, offers a welcome break from the heat and bustle of the city. Its history goes back to the VII
, but was rebuilt in the eighteenth century
the style of the French town of St
-Malo. Its sandy beaches and whitewashed houses and blue have turned
Essaouira in a place frequented by artists, which in
now an important part of the community. The fortifications
Portuguese, French and Berber
stretching along the promenade contribute to enhance the mystique of the town. Orson Welles
shot parts of his film Othello
(1952) in the walls of the
Skala du Port one of these strengths. Trade winds from the Atlantic
have made the city a popular destination for lovers of surf
. Other popular activities are the sun (in summer) and sports like football or
jogging.
Essaouira is a Moroccan city with a more European style and is very popular with independent travelers and
surf fans
. You can learn more about this town from the tourist office, 10 rue
of Caire (
tel: (044) 783 532 or 473 819;
web page:).
After 1 h 30 m walk through the souks, alleyways and walls, and climbing to the top of the towers of the wall, we
the way back to
Marrakech, where we arrived at about 19:00 pm Here leave the rest under photo
Essaouira:
The above pictures are from the souks and the main street of Old Town Redeemer of the walls.
far
pictures of the walls.
And these from the square and the tower.
After a brief rest and some quick showers we returned to the heart of the city, the plaza Jema the Fna , where we dined in the posts of the square, more specifically at No. 31, which almost always there was a queue to sit as a guide is recommended by Lonely Planet. Anyway, hot dogs, if well are toast death very good ... Here you have more pictures of the square at night here below:
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