June 20: Essaouira

We got a ride to Essaouira from a lovely couple who live in the Czech Republic. They are currently traveling in Morocco for three months as the husband is taking a sabbatical from his current job.  

After a pit stop at Carrefour, we walked through the Medina in Essaouira and were once struck by how these places touch all of your senses. During our slow walk through the stress, we smelled grilled sardines; enjoyed the sweet taste of honey; heard the excited chatter of the energized crowds; were amazed by the rainbow color of spices; and felt the smooth handcrafted wood carvings. The streets and alleys bustling with merchants reminded us of our experience in Fes – just a bit cleaner and polished. During our slow stroll, we purchased a kilo of peanut butter, a kilo of honey, and a new wooden cover for our sink. We also ate chicken and sardines for lunch.

We did experience a bit of a rough interaction with a woman who tried to sell us almond butter.  After trying a delicious sample of it, we decided to purchase a kilogram of the perfectly blended sweet and salty spread.  Unfortunately, when we tasted our jar of almond butter, it was clear that it was not of the same quality as the sample.  Our attempt to return the jar for a refund was met with heated resistance but eventually we received a refund.  

The bus ride home was hot and over an hour long.  We made an unimaginable number of stops along the route back to Sidk Kaouki.