|
The small coastal town of Essaouira makes a welcome
retreat from the bustle and hassle of Marrakech, just half
a day's bus ride away. This little fishing town boasts long,
white sandy beaches and some of the best conditions for windsurfing
in the whole of Africa. Above all, Essaouira is the place
to visit when you want to kick back and relax, and as yet
remains relatively unspoiled, being popular with independent
travellers and holidaying Moroccans rather than package tours.
Essaouira plays host to several national and international
windsurfing competitions promoting itself as ‘Windy City
Afrika’. Diabat, Sidi Kaouki and Cap Sim are the most
popular places for windsurfing, and over the years the windsurfers
have replaced the hippies of the 60's when Diabat was home
to a commune lead by Jimi Hendrix. |
|
Locals enjoy the Sunset in Essaouira
|
|
If you wander down to the harbour you can savour freshly
cooked seafood: sardines, squid and prawns in particular.
The old sea bastion here offers excellent views out over the
bay toward the exotically named "Isles Purpuraires"
(Purple Islands). No, they're not purple, but were named because
of the oysters once farmed there for the purple dye they produce
- a luxury sought after by the upper classes of Italy who
used it to dye their robes. Today the islands are home to
a bird sanctuary and the endangered species ‘Eleanor's
falcon’.
With good whether all year round, there are no ‘best’
times to visit Essaouira. Day time temperatures can get very
hot in the summer months, and are pleasantly warm in the winter.
Windsurfers frequent the waters all year.
|
