Sadly, the introductory rate on our hotel suite is over, so we’re moving to a less glamorous double room (without TV) for 350D (US$45) per night for the remainder of our stay. Don’t forget our daily budget for the whole trip is still only US$100 so any savings Christi and I can make on the accommodation gives us more money to spend on food and activities. What does not change is the delightful rooftop breakfast. The freshly squeezed OJ and freshly baked croissants really are delicious.
The location of the medina hard up against the Atlantic Coast is a stunning setting. Waves crash upon the exterior walls of the fortifications, which protect the white-washed buildings within. This location is a photographers’ dream. I want to spend at least part of the day finding the perfect image of the Medina and the Atlantic Coast, although Christi insists on finding an internet cafe with a fast connection first so she can upload the hundreds of photos I’ve already taken over the last few weeks. While Christi works, I surf the net:checking out the latest English football gossip, making sure we still have some money in our bank account, and, of course, planning the next stage of our Year of Wonder.
We eat a late lunch at the Disney-esque Ali Baba’s. It’s everything a tourist could want in a Moroccan restaurant – aside from the flying carpet. And despite this, the lamb tajine is surprisingly tasty. As we search the medina for those perfect Kodak moments, we come across the ticket office for the Supratours bus service to Marrakesh and reluctantly purchase tickets. We won’t be leaving quite yet, but whereas Essaouira (pronounced Essa-weera by the way) is a quiet idyll, Marrakesh is a major tourist center – reputed to be loud, brash, and in your face. How on earth will we cope with such a tourism frenzy and more importantly how will we survive without OJ and croissants?
Blog post by Roderick Phillips, author of Weary Heart – a gut-wrenching tale of love and test tubes.
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