Essaouira – If Only

 

Oh! Essaouira!

If only we had known about you before.

If only we had known about your quaintness and your charming, colorful streets. Your gregarious residents, your delicious food, and the gorgeous riad that spread rose petals on our bath mat.

We probably would have made crazy Marrakech only a quick stop and bee-lined it to you. We could have had more time to gently haggle with vendors, stroll on your expansive beaches and watch your Atlantic coastline sunsets. I could have spent more afternoons on a rooftop patio, listening to the mellow activity go on in the small streets below while I wrote, wrote, wrote.

Because I was inspired, inspired, inspired.

Essaouira

 

At dusk

 

Water front

 

Spices

 

Street scene

 

Building

 

Bike

 

On our second last day in Morocco we spent the better part of the afternoon lazily strolling along the beach and somewhat dreading thinking about where we were off to next: New York City.

In the winter. NYC in the winter.

We finally left the beach because we were worried about getting sunburnt.

Beach

 

Did you hear that New York? We were worried about sunburns.

Please be good to us…

On beach

46 Comments... Read them below or add one of your own
  • February 1 2012

    Fabulous pics! They made me feel like I was once again back in the incredible “Land of the Vowels” (Essaouira, I mean – 6 out of 9, surely must be some kind of record, no?)

    And yes, I too will take Essaouira over Marrakech any day!

    • February 2 2012

      That must be a record – I am sure. It took me about the first week in Morocco to learn how to say it properly!

  • February 1 2012

    Looks beautiful! I’m really looking forward to your take on New York City though. Even if you have to take every picture from a window somewhere to keep warm. I’ll bet Pete can’t talk you into jumping into the ocean this time!
    Steve recently posted..Entertaining the Non-Rider – Rides You Usually Skip

    • February 2 2012

      Well, having been in NY a few days already, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the weather! Let’s hope it holds out!

  • February 1 2012

    Dang! Pete is getting AWESOME with those photos! If you ever ‘own’ a house again someday, how could you ever choose which photos to print and display? 🙂

    Not to say that we’re old, but do you think that because we’re older, we appreciate slowing down and soaking it all in more than we used to? I could totally relate to your “listening to the mellow activity”!
    Teri recently posted..A Very Biased Post

    • February 2 2012

      I think the solution to that problem is just to never OWN a house again someday! 🙂 (Although, I do have to stake my claim and say that some of the pictures in this post are in fact mine!)

      I think I’ve always appreciated the slower, not sure how much it has to do with age. I mean, we grew up in a town of 100 residents (incl cats and dogs!), I think that’s very ingrained in me!

  • February 1 2012

    This place looks AMAZING!

    I too, get SO frustrated when I stay in place that is just “okay,” only to move on a place that is well, “fantastic!”

    Maybe you could just apply loads of sunscreen while you’re in NYC. Sure, you might not need it, but perhaps your body might start to think that the UV rays in the winter are you know, kind of present.

    It’s all mind over matter, right??
    Sarah recently posted..Getting Scammed in the World’s Oldest City

    • February 2 2012

      Haha, I suppose I could try that! Yesterday was quite warm, almost as warm as Morocco! I doubt this will last, but if it could just hold out for a few weeks…

  • February 1 2012

    Is Essaouira in Morocco! Sometimes it feels as though it’s in a totally different country! Your great photos capture this feeling beautifully. I could easily return to Essaouira but have no desire to go back to Marrakesh.
    jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..Udaipur Markets

    • February 2 2012

      I’m really glad we experienced Marrakech as I think it is something everyone should do – but overall I was more impressed my Essaouira – it was more my “style” for sure!

  • February 1 2012

    Ah, I fell in love with Essaouira too. I remember those old blue boats bouncing on the water. You are so right, it is worlds apart from Marrakesh and a much better experience. Looking forward to reading about your time in New York City!
    Cherina | Quiet Wanderings recently posted..The Road Less Travelled

    • February 2 2012

      Thanks Cherina! We’ve been in NYC a couple of weeks already (we’re slow writers), and I can tell you, I have lots to write about. Loving our time here!

  • February 1 2012

    Fantastic pictures! You guys are getting good at this! Weather report for NYC 60F for tomorrow, not balmy but not bad either 🙂

    • February 2 2012

      Hey – nice to hear from you Genevieve! You are the expert on moving from paradise to chilly North America in winter. 🙂 I think we’ll be okay!

  • February 2 2012

    I’ll be interested in your take on NYC, too. It’s been a blast for me, and the weather’s better now than in the summer. (Granted, I haven’t just left Paradise.)

    Hope to see you soon.
    Kate Convissor recently posted..Lincoln Center, New York City

    • February 2 2012

      The NYC weather has been surprisingly good (minus the snowstorm the first w/e we were here), so we’re just begging that it holds out!

  • February 2 2012

    Really nice photos. It seems I could spend a long time exploring that country. Much to see, and perhaps an abundance of “unexpected.”
    Kevin – The Mad Traveler recently posted..The Next Big Trip – Spring 2012

  • February 2 2012

    Ah Morocco.. this series of posts is rapidly pushing it up my to do list 😉
    Laurence recently posted..Face off: five European cities duel to the death

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      It should be on that list! 🙂

  • February 2 2012

    I wish I would have gone when I was in Morocco. It was actually the only place on my list to visit in the country and, sadly, the one place I never made it to. 🙁

  • jan
    February 3 2012

    Essaouira – I know where to head when I am in Morocco!
    jan recently posted..SECRET WATER SKIING AND CAMPING WEEK-END

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      Yes. It was one of our favorite spots in the country and definitely worth a visit.

  • February 3 2012

    Funny, as I was researching some of our dream destinations I came across Essaouira. I’m so glad to hear your first hand description of its charm- definitely our kind of place vs a big city. When we make it to Morocco, we’ll be sure to follow your advice and make a bee-line it there. Thanks for posting!
    Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..Hot Off The Presses!

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      Your welcome Mary. You really should experience Mararkech at least for a couple of days, but Essaouira was definitely more our style.

  • February 3 2012

    Love these pictures! We can’t wait to finally visit Morocco.
    Dani | Globetrottergirls recently posted..Polaroid of the week: Tea plantation in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

  • Claire
    February 3 2012

    Beautiful pictures! I want to go, sounds amazing. Hope NYC is good to you!

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      It has been very good to us so far. Only one snowstorm, and otherwise the weather has been pretty good.

  • Jeremy Branham
    February 3 2012

    I didn’t know anything about Essaouira but I like the idea of getting away from more touristy Marrakesh. Like you, I would have needed to be careful of sunburns as well 🙂

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      Yes, I carry about 3 different kinds of sunscreen at all times, but totally forgot to even use it that day. I burn pretty easily.

  • February 3 2012

    Lovely photos. I also loved Essaouira. Except for those seagulls by the port. Godamn…
    Phil recently posted..2012 Festival au Désert in Words and Photos + Update from Bamako

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      Thanks Phil. I agree that you definitely had to be alert with those gulls. There were so many of them!!

  • Abi
    February 4 2012

    Oh, I feel bad now! I could have told you…Wonderful place…Sorry…(But perhaps you wouldn’t have listened to me anyway since I also love London 😉 )

    • Pete
      February 4 2012

      LOL, no need to apologize, we would have believed you (despite your love of, ahem, London 😉 It really was a wonderful little place.

  • February 6 2012

    These are story-telling pictures. I love the diversity in style and composition.
    Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Smiling Local | Norte Argentino | Travel Photo

  • February 6 2012

    Is that guy scratching his bum?
    Candice Walsh recently posted..How to deal with a storm in St. John’s

    • February 7 2012

      Haha, he just might be! We did cut another picture where a dude was picking his nose. Classy.

  • February 11 2012

    This place looks absolutely exquisite. I wouldn’t have wanted to leave.

    And as always, photos are beautiful. 🙂

    • February 13 2012

      Thank you Cheryl – exquisite is a perfect word to describe it!

  • February 11 2012

    Is this the place with all the blue? Morocco is on our list defintiely
    Andrew recently posted..Fiordland Park : Forests, Mountains and Waterfalls

    • February 13 2012

      Nope, the blue place is Chefchaouen, which we didn’t get to see. REALLY sad about that. 🙁

  • February 24 2012

    We spent 4 days in Marrakech. I didn’t really enjoy it. I wish we had gone to Essaouira instead!

    • February 24 2012

      We enjoyed Marrakesh, but Essaouira is really the place to be. 🙂

  • March 25 2012

    Such beautiful photos. How long did you get to stay here. I feel like I could just not get enough of this. I’ve dreamed about living in Morocco for years now. It is good to see that you didn’t have too much to worry about in NYC though. I’m glad you are really enjoying your travels.
    Elise Walsh recently posted..5 Free Things to Do in Berlin

    • March 26 2012

      Hey Elise – we were only in Essaouira for 3 days, and 10 days in Morocco overall. It was so nice, I would have loved to stay in Essaouira longer!

  • I LOVE Essaouira. I miss it so much! I lived in Morocco and it is def. one of my top 5 favorite towns there. The architecture, the vibe, the fish market…ahh, we’ll meet again!

    -Maria Alexandra
    Maria @ Travel The Middle East recently posted..Hitchhiking Israel solo: Tresspassing and Mount of Beatitudes (part 4)

    • July 18 2012

      I know what you mean! I wish we had known about it before and spent more time there…

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