Moroccan Passions

Why not take a trip to Morocco for Semana Santa? — we thought.

Done deal!

We bought tickets, booked a car, and reserved a place to stay for a couple of days (we’ll figure out the rest when we get there). And off we went to explore the mysterious land of the Moors.

Tazgut
Our first stop was a small town on the coast, Tazgut. We stayed in a colorful co-living space for surfers.

It’s worth mentioning that traditional “guesthouses” in Morocco are called riads — these are multi-story hotels with an inner courtyard in the middle.

Another common type of accommodation along the coast is surfer spots. Usually cozy and simple, with delicious food and plenty of greenery.

Essaouira
Next on our journey was Essaouira. An old coastal city-port, surrounded by fortress walls and filled with the cries of seagulls circling everywhere.

We stayed in a riad in the old town, with its narrow streets and throngs of merchants. Shopping is everywhere here:
traditional Moroccan ceramics, painted plates
bags and leather products
carved boxes, Moroccan mirrors with intricate shutters, and other wooden items (thuja)
silver jewelry
paintings and antique items
argan oil and soap.

Interestingly, there’s none of the usual Eastern pushiness in all of this. Everything is quite cultured and clean.

We spent a couple of days in Essaouira, visited a hammam, and of course, came back with a bunch of souvenirs.

At first, Morocco dazzles with its colors, scents, and vibrant authenticity.

However, you quickly cool off from it — either you get tired of it, or it differs so much from your usual cultural code that you want to escape somewhere with less “Moroccan.”

To be continued…