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Essaouira Morocco Windy City

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Essaouira, Ancient Atlantic Port

Essaouira is a popular vacation for Moroccans because its usually cooler than the great cities of Casablanca and Marrakesh. First made famous as a tourist destination by Jimi Hendrix it is now favored by Wind and Kite Surfers. Tourists also love the Medina (Old Town) still inside its ramparts with the sea on two sides. Essaouira is everything you ever dreamed an Arabian Desert City would be.

Essaouira

You Must Stay in a Riad

Riads are the traditional town house in the Old Town Centers (Mediinas) . They have high walls on all sides with just a door and a view small windows exposed to the street. The Riad is built facing inwards around a small garden and an inner court, all the rooms face and open to either the garden or the the central court. There is also a flat roof for hanging out washing or sleeping in the very hottest weather.

The Riad is a sanctuary for the family from the heat and the outside world.

The Villas and Riads of Morocco

by: Corinne Verner

Amazon Price: $23.82 (as of 06/01/2012)

Essaouira Photo Gallery

Tourist Tips for Essaouira and Morocco

Credit Cards
Credit cards are often not taken even in petrol/gas stations so you should carry plenty of cash in small denominations.
Withdrawing Cash
We experienced difficulties withdrawing cash from Cash Dispensers which was apparently due to problems with the computer links.
Try and Pay with the Exact Change
When shopping in the Medinas and Souks try and pay with the exact money otherwise there is a great chance your change will be incorrect. There's no problem they will correct it when you complain, it's a kind of game.
Beggars
Decide how many beggars you will give money to a day and stick to it, only a few will actually approach you. Have coins ready in your pocket
Paying for Parking
If you park in a town center you will likely be approached to pay for the "free" parking, This doesn't cost much and means your car will be looked after. They will even park it for you and wash it for a small fee.
Photographing People
Don't photograph people without asking
Don't Drink the Tap Water
Drink bottled water
Fresh Orange Juice
You will often see stalls selling fresh orange juice for 5 Dirhams or less. Choose a stall which crushes the oranges while you wait. The orange juice is delicious.
Nuss Nuss
This is a sweet coffee served in most cafes
Moroccan Money the Dirham
A very rough guide to prices is a Pound or a Dollar or a Euro is worth 10 Dirham, so divide all Moroccan prices by 10 .

Learn more about Morocco

Morocco Travel Guides

What I Best Loved About Morocco

Time Travel

I'm an amateur historian and have always wondered what my town Abingdon must have been like before the industrial revolution, when everyone would know each other, when few traveled very far, when most things you needed were produced or made locally. Well don't get me wrong there are very modern wealthy parts of Morocco, but there are still small desert villages and towns where people live pretty much as did in the middle-ages or biblical times. Everywhere you see shepherds in the fields , people traveling on asses laden with vegetables and goods. People working the fields, in fact unlike our deserted countryside there are people everywhere. Nothing is thrown away everything is repaired.

In the markets there is no packaging everything is fresh and sold from sacks or boxes. You see men carrying trays of cakes or pies on their heads something I'd only ever seen in comics.

As everyone knows each other you frequently see Moroccans greet each other and take great pleasure in it.

What to Buy in Essaouira

Moroccan Specialities

Thuya trees once covered the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco, but because of over cutting, large areas have been treeless for hundreds of years. For centuries the natives had started fires whenever they wanted to clear tracts of land. Such clearing caused great destruction, but paradoxically enough, also caused burls of beautiful character to form on the roots of burned thuya trees.

Naturally Med - Thuya Wood Magic Box

Amazon Price: (as of 06/01/2012)

A burl or bur or burr is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. Burls are highly prized for carving.

Hotel Riad Al Madina Essaouira

This is very well placed in the Medina for the Beach, the fishing port, and the Medina itself.

In the very heart of Essaouira, 200 metres from the beach and within walking distance of the main attractions, this guest house was one of the most elegant homes of old Mogador.

It retains all the charm and elegance of its original splendour and is situated near the heart of the historic market place.

Recently the hotel, under new ownership, has been carefully renovated and the ancient Riad has reappeared to display its original sculpted stonework arcades and lofty pillars.

Argan Oil

Huile D'Argan

When you are in Essaouira one thing you will want to buy is Huile D'Argan or in English Argan Oil this is consumed as a very healthy oil and as beauty aid although I've never worked out if it is the same product. You may want to buy it from one of the many Female Co-operatives that have been established thanks to the King of Morocco.

The product below is for clearing up skin problems.

100% Cold Pressed Organic Argan Oil 100 ml BY AAA Shea Butter

Amazon Price: $28.00 (as of 06/01/2012)

Use For: Reduces visible scars left by acne or chicken pox, Moisturizes dry skin
Reduces blemishes and slows down the appearance of wrinkles, Promotes healthy skin
Helps protects skin elasticity, helps prevents stretch marks, Restores the shine of dull lifeless hair
Care of the scalp to advance hair growth and prevent split ends, Chapped and cracked skin
Reduces visible scars left by acne or chicken pox, Moisturizes dry skin

Female Cooperatives in Morocco

Many women in rural areas of Morocco have joined female-only co-operatives and taken their destiny into their own hands. The businesses have changed their lives completely, providing the women with their own income and increasing their self-esteem. This is apparently controversially encouraged by the King. Whenever you travel in country areas you will see signs for these cooperatives they sell their own Argan Oils, soaps and other beauty products.

Beyond the Veil, Revised Edition: Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society

by: Fatima Mernissi

Amazon Price: $2.99 (as of 06/01/2012)

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