ESSAOUIRA

Wind is the music and ocean is the series. Thousand times welcome. Marhaba. Choukran (=thank you). Blue and white. Medina = old town. Riad - to stay at. Strong mint tea. Aladin-lamp-like teapots and every server is pro in pouring it from as high as he can lift his arm. Moroccan pancakes (M'smmen/msemen & baghrir) but bread is THE thing. Tagines but grilled fish and seafood is more popular. Town rivalry: too much couscous in everything in Marrakesh, so they say. Moroccan salad: tomatoes, red onions, peppers & lemon. Busy fishing port.

Snatch of the day. Where there's fish, there are seagulls - be warned. 50MAD tip for unrequested tour of the port is only so so, but taxi driver is content with 20MAD for walking us to riad. Business driven, but not annoying. At least not yet.

Democratic price. Not today? Maybe tomorrow? 1h 🐫 =>150MAD on the ad -> 100MAD if you come tomorrow -> and tomorrow... I'll give you 80MAD; Abdul is your man. La plage is for surfing, wind surfing, kite surfing, supping, kayaking, football, horse & camel riding, quad-biking, walking, sunbathing or just having a drink

and on the other side of Medina there are wild dunes and secluded little beaches framed by rubble and rubbish to turn one's eyes away. Look at the ocean and keep walking.

Treasure of broken colourful tiles was confiscated at the gates and we had no luggage for dream carpet.

Let's-fill-large-suitcases trip awaits in the future so not only taxi driver but couple of porters are content too.

A touch of feminism would do this country good: 'happy biscuits' offered to man, but only ordinary ones to madam; no hash for the lady too and the following tops the list - at the port WC is pour homme ONLY!!!

Emerging breed of travelers - new British.

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$

Officially $1=10MAD, €1=11MAD, £1=12MAD, but in reality all the above curencies give you 10MAD if that and deal with it.

Return flights LTN to ESU with easyjet and with hold luggage only £97; Riad Kafila £149 for 3 nghts with breakfast + €3pppn city tax; airport transfer €20 one way and city taxis don't take you there; lunch of fresh grilled fish and/or seafood with bread and salad and soft drinks for two ~£15; two mojitos in one of a few bars that sell alcohol ~£15, Moroccan pancake from the street stall 5MAD, tea at traditional caffe for two 12MAD & if at trendy surffers' place 30MAD; bottle of water 5MAD; large chocoloate bar 10MADd