After several months of grey winter, Brownyn and I agreed that a spring getaway was in order. We settled on Morocco as our destination, for its warm weather, interesting culture, and easy access from Europe. Upon arrival into Marrakesh, we were initially taken aback by the dusty streets and worn stone buildings, but soon warmed to the city as we began to sample its exotic sights, sounds and tastes.
We spent our first 2 days exploring Marrakesh, a city that seems to never sleep. During the day, we struggled not to get lost as we navigated the maze of narrow streets of the souks (markets) where small shops displayed colourful ceramics, blankets, spices and teas. The bargaining skills that I acquired in China were indispensable, as prices were almost always negotiable. At night, we lingered at the main square ‘Djemaa el Fna, where tourists and locals alike congregated until the wee hours. On one end of the square was a collection of stalls offering freshly squeezed orange juice, dried fruits and nuts, and fragrant Moroccan cuisine, all manned by charming young men determined to convince you of their stall’s superiority. The adjacent courtyard featured an eclectic mix of performers (musicians, contortionists) and vendors (traveling pharmaceuticals, henna artists), each encircled by a rapt crowd.
We began and ended our days at a wonderful Riad (B&B) unexpectedly tucked away down a back alley, featuring elegant local décor, private pool, rooftop views and delicious mint tea…the perfect antidote to the craziness of the medina. The only downside of our accommodation was the mournful daily 5am call to prayer from the nearby mosque.
Next, we ventured to the coastal town of Essaouira for 24 hours of relative tranquility. Like Marrakesh, Essaouira remains very down-to-earth despite the thriving tourism industry – Brownyn described it as a ‘Muslim Santa Cruz’. As native ocean girls, we were thrilled to simply walk on the beach and inhale the sea air. The beach was alive with impromptu soccer games, while sunbathers were noticeably lacking. We also enjoyed exploring Essaouira’s lively port, filled with fishermen selling their catch, as well as seagulls and stray cats eager for a spare morsel.
One of the many memorable parts of the trip was our visit to a Hammam – the Moroccan equivalent of a Turkish bath - where we had the roughest scrubbing of our lives and had buckets of warm water dumped on our heads. It was a lot more fun than it sounds and Bronwyn and I both eagerly bought scrubbers so that we could recreate the experience. We wrapped up our visit to Essaouira with camel rides on the beach, a first for both of us. We couldn’t stop grinning as we climbed the sand dunes, the perfect ending to our Moroccan escapade. We returned to our respective homes the following morning, equipped with tea, spices, scrubbers and more, keen to bring a taste of Morocco home with us.
After several months of grey winter, Brownyn and I agreed that a spring getaway was in order. We settled on Morocco as our destination, for its warm weather, interesting culture, and easy access from Europe. Upon arrival into Marrakesh, we were initially taken aback by the dusty streets and worn stone buildings, but soon warmed to the city as we began to sample its exotic sights, sounds and tastes.
We spent our first 2 days exploring Marrakesh, a city that seems to never sleep. During the day, we struggled not to get lost as we navigated the maze of narrow streets of the souks (markets) where small shops displayed colourful ceramics, blankets, spices and teas. The bargaining skills that I acquired in China were indispensable, as prices were almost always negotiable. At night, we lingered at the main square ‘Djemaa el Fna, where tourists and locals alike congregated until the wee hours. On one end of the square was a collection of stalls offering freshly squeezed orange juice, dried fruits and nuts, and fragrant Moroccan cuisine, all manned by charming young men determined to convince you of their stall’s superiority. The adjacent courtyard featured an eclectic mix of performers (musicians, contortionists) and vendors (traveling pharmaceuticals, henna artists), each encircled by a rapt crowd.
We began and ended our days at a wonderful Riad (B&B) unexpectedly tucked away down a back alley, featuring elegant local décor, private pool, rooftop views and delicious mint tea…the perfect antidote to the craziness of the medina. The only downside of our accommodation was the mournful daily 5am call to prayer from the nearby mosque.
Next, we ventured to the coastal town of Essaouira for 24 hours of relative tranquility. Like Marrakesh, Essaouira remains very down-to-earth despite the thriving tourism industry – Brownyn described it as a ‘Muslim Santa Cruz’. As native ocean girls, we were thrilled to simply walk on the beach and inhale the sea air. The beach was alive with impromptu soccer games, while sunbathers were noticeably lacking. We also enjoyed exploring Essaouira’s lively port, filled with fishermen selling their catch, as well as seagulls and stray cats eager for a spare morsel.
One of the many memorable parts of the trip was our visit to a Hammam – the Moroccan equivalent of a Turkish bath - where we had the roughest scrubbing of our lives and had buckets of warm water dumped on our heads. It was a lot more fun than it sounds and Bronwyn and I both eagerly bought scrubbers so that we could recreate the experience. We wrapped up our visit to Essaouira with camel rides on the beach, a first for both of us. We couldn’t stop grinning as we climbed the sand dunes, the perfect ending to our Moroccan escapade. We returned to our respective homes the following morning, equipped with tea, spices, scrubbers and more, keen to bring a taste of Morocco home with us.
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