Essaouira

Yesterday we packed up and loaded our bags on mules to begin our short walk back to Imlil village where a van picked us up and took us in to Marrakech. After a short wait there we boarded our Supa bus bound for Essaouira, an historical trading port on the Atlantic coast.  This bus was quite Supa - no broken seat here - scored a front seat so was happy about that too.  Upon our arrival in Essaouira our bags were loaded in to a hand cart. This was raced off at one hell of a pace through the winding back streets of the old walled Medina with our party of seven mature ladies racing behind.  Our accommodation is a traditonal riad (traditional house built around a central courtyard). I have been paired with Margaret, a lady from Lower Hutt, while here. We had to struggle up three flights of stairs with our bags but were reasonably happy to discover we had a window in our room. Unfortunately we have also discovered we are right above an entry in to a local mosque and the first call to prayers is pre dawn, followed by four others throughout the day, the last being quite late at night. Add to that a local cat continually meowing(they are everywhere)this is most definitely not the quietest of rooms.
We began our time here visiting the port area and watching the waves bounding the city walls. A couple of restaurants were visited, each seemingly up more steps than the previous one.  Today we were free to wander at will.  I joined a couple of the other ladies for a walk along the beachfront followed a wander through the old town.  Rather leisurely and so unlike the pace of previous Grassroots trips.
Tomorrow we depart at 6am to return to Marrakech. This time we will stay there for a couple of days.
Nesting gull - old town in background

Old town sea front

Small fishing boats

Harbour 
Walking the beachfront - cloudy today

Displays of olives, lemons etc

Street in the Jewish Quarter

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