A windy time in Essaouira

We were in desperate need of a weekend retreat. A fellow teacher was having a visitor for the weekend so it was decided that we would take the 3 hour bus ride across to Essaouira and join them. Essaouira is a coastal town of about 70,000. It was originally a trading port and called Mogador, which now refers to the island off the coast. The medina is UNESCO World Heritage listed and Orson Welles filmed 'Othello' in the medina in 1952.

The beach is expansive and very windy. There are not many waves, but the conditions are perfect for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Jeff and I previously had a go at windsurfing in Essa back in 2007. I had a great time and would love to try it again when the weather heats up a little.

So this time, we relaxed with friends in a huge apartment/riad deep into the medina. We ate delicious fresh seafood and relaxed in the sun. Essaouira is a very pretty and clean destination in Morocco. I love the white walls and bright blue doors, windows and balconies. The locals are friendlier and the air is fresher. A perfect destination to escape the hustle and bustle of bursting Marrakech.

Great Hiking in Picturesque Imlil

A grand taxi (200dhs) took us an hour out of Marrakech to Imlil, at the bottom of the Atlas mountains. Imlil is the starting point for the Jebel Toubkal hike, 4167 metres. We all got well acquainted; myself, Jeff, Chris (a friend who works for Intrepid Travel here in Marrakech), Fatimazohra (an Arabic teacher at ASM), Lisa and Martin (Chris' friends visiting from Hastings).

From there we made our way through the damp and unbelievably green town of Imlil, past the Kasbah Toubkal (where Kundun was filmed, above) and into a Gite (a home-run type of hotel). Chris was able to book us into the gite, run by Hussein Tajine and his family. The gite is used by Intrepid Travel for groups to stay before they hike into the mountains.

We relaxed in the colorful couches and bundled ourselves into blankets. Unfortunately the concrete walls were beginning to do their job - keeping out the harsh Moroccan heat. We noticed the altitude was affecting our snacks! We were warmed with some mint tea and biscuits. Hussein brought us some delicious harira (traditional Morrocan soup) tajines and fruit, which was demolished with ease.

We woke up to some delicious breakfast on Sunday morning and then began our hike. Lisa was suffering from Marrakchi air pollution and a bad leg, so Martin and Lisa hiked for an hour with us, and then spent the rest of the day relaxing in Imlil.

We hiked up the top of the first mountain and stopped to admire the view, take some pictures and drink some mint tea.

Fatima-zohra couldn't resist kid-napping a... kid. Rest assured it was delivered back to its herd to continue its journey through the mountains.

We wandered down the other side of the mountain to a lush valley with a gushing stream.

 

We crossed the other side and walked through another village, where boys grow in trees...

... and others walk arm in arm following the outsiders.

After the village we crossed the river once more and made our way up another mountain...

...and then down the other side.

 

At the bottom we had another river to cross. This time, wading through the icy water.

And then back into the sleepy mountain village of Imlil.

Our hike took roughly 7 hours, including a stop for tea and lunch. I am writing this entry 2 days after the hike, resting hurting hamstrings, quads and calves... It was well worth the pain, but I don't think I will be rushing off for another epic hike anytime too soon.

Generation X-pat Interview

I was interviewed for a little section in the Sunday Magazine in the Sunday Telegraph - a newspaper in New South Wales, Australia. Here is a little scan of the article. Thanks for emailing the scan mum!

Sunday Magazine, Australia