Essaouira - the haven for many!

Since time immemorial, Essaouira has served as a haven for many travellers from all over the world. It is situated strategically along the Moroccan coast line and has a natural well protected harbour. Essaouira is a beautiful city to visit and the best places to go to Essaouira are many so it would not be possible to discuss them all here, but I shall do my best.

Where do I start, I guess in the beginning since that seems to be the apt place to start everything. Essaouira, was coveted by the Phoenicians and the Romans and some of the Carthage wars were fought on this coast line. That does make one think, does it not? Well, it did make me think, just as I was walking along the coastline, appreciating the ancient harbour, all the conflicts that had taken place here.
I came here from Marrakesh and the journey, although not comfortable and all that, still was picturesque enough for me to put up with it. But if you are allergic to dust and all that, then it is better that you put off the trip for some time. Anyway Essaouira is bustling with life just as it did under the Phoenicians. It is basically a sea faring village cum city. The markets are not to be missed especially early in the morning, just as the first catch trickles in to the city ramparts.

The life, the language, the spices, the colors and the way that people talk to each other, all of it makes for a very heady experience. The cuisine here is a hot pot of every invader who had come to Morocco and settled here. But the one common ingredient that you will find in most of its dishes is the chick peas. The dishes themselves are very subtle and not all that spicy as one may think, which is great news for the Western travellers.
The hotels here are quite affordable and do not forget to bargain for anything and everything here. It is the custom here to barter and do so, you may get very pleasantly surprised. Also, when you are in a shop to purchase something, do not wave your money about as that kind of arrogance would only attract the wrong sort of crowd.

The streets are very narrow here and I do mean narrow, it is kind of interesting to wander down the narrow alleyways thinking of the humongous freeways that we have back in our cities.The old fort is here and it does make up for that dusty ambiance that Essaouira has some of the time. That said, do not forget to pay a visit to the old harbour and see if you can do so during sunset. That is a sight that will stay with you for a very, very long time to come!