Essaouira


 Our new driver,Kamal, met us at the Marrakech Riad and hotel and we set off for Essaouira.  It took awhile to leave Marrakech, and then the road was quite good and traffic wasn't too bad.  We passed through several small villages and it appears Monday is market day.  Very busy with the donkey cart parks full.  We stop at an argon oil cooperative operated by women.  We see the nuts and how they are traditionally cracked.

The goats love the nuts and climb the trees to get them.  Apparently they just like the shells not nuts.

Nuts.

The lady cracks them with a rock.

In order for the nuts to be edible they have to be roasted. For cosmetic uses they are ground.

We carry on to Essaouira and check into our hotel. Very nice, on the beach of the Atlantic ocean.  We asked Kamal to take us to the nearby Gary Player designed golf course.  He had not been to a golf course and was keen to understand what the big deal was to us.





Kamal drove us to the Medina and we walked in on our own.  We went to Taros, a rooftop bar for a beer and fries.  Overlooking the old marina with the fishing fleet.


We wandered back into the Medina for a couple of hours.


Walking the many streets was very relaxing compared to the Marrakech Medina which was alive with motorcycles at every turn.

We walked along the beach promenade to get back to the hotel.  We cruised by a few restaurants to check them out for dinner.



A nice evening with great food followed by a downpour.  May as well finish the wine a d hope for a break before dashing to the hotel!






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