Essaouira

This is our last Morocco post, and I must say, my favourite part of our getaway. The Brit and I left our laid-back surf spot behind for a few days and road tripped to the infamous beach town of Essaouira. This place is best known for serving as a haven to hippie travelers and artists in the 1970s, including Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley... and it still has remnants of its psychedelic past. The beaches themselves are long-stretching and lively.. full of families and vacationers, but its the old town that gives Essaouira its edge. Wrapped around by an ancient wall, the historic town is a giant maze made up of narrow passages, alleys and underground tunnels, all surrounded by towering old buildings. To be honest, the Brit felt a bit claustrophobic and confined at times, but I simply loved the intensity, the people, noises, smells {except for the fish market} and constant stream of visual stimulation from the absurd to the absolutely stunning. The old town has endless lovely guest houses, called riads, each designed in its own unique theme or character. We stayed in the Riad Dar Zayna, a gorgeous sanctuary, decked out in traditional Moroccan tile-work and furnishings with an amazing rooftop terrace and the best breakfast in town {all I have to say is apricot jam and massive mugs full of steaming creamy coffee}. 

The shopping in Essaouira is amazing, there are so many markets and vendors down every crammed laneway, each selling various takes on gorgeous hand-crafted silver and beaded jewelry, leather, rugs, spices, teas, crystals, hand-painted ceramics... I ended up buying a cherry-brown leather knapsack {okay maybe two} and tiny hand of Fatima pendent to wear around my neck {she's meant to ward off the evil eye}. We just wandered the maze for hours, tucking into tea houses or finding a courtyard patio to have a tagine and a rest.. and then back at it, into the madness, the crowds, the curious looks from the women behind their veils and tiny street cats running around looking for their next meal. At times it felt quite intense, children begging, vendors constant calling out to us, motorcycles suddenly speeding down the once-tranquil passage, but I think its that intensity I craved... as for the Brit, let's just say he was happy to get back on the beach and amongst the waves. 

 xo Ashi

Not Your Average Farmer's Market

Tipped off by our host Chris as a must-see, we managed to catch the weekly market {known as the Souk} in a neighbouring town to Taghazout. Not only is the Souk a chance for villagers living in remote areas to stock upon their weekly goods, they are also THE place for socializing and catching up on village gossip. A slot of land is cordoned off and hundreds of sellers set up a little stands to sell their goods. You can find pretty much find everything from fabric to fruit & veggies to glassware and endless mounds of spices. We just wandered around and let ourselves be guided by the waves of people hustling and bargaining to get their watermelons and mint.. vital elements to any Moroccan meal. I must say out of our entire trip this was the first time I felt relieved to have my black pashmina with me to throw on my shoulders. I really only had my hair and feet showing but still felt to be underdressed. This Souk happened to bring out a very traditional crowd who weren't shy to stare. My advice, regardless off the heat always pack a pashmina in your day bag when traveling through a Muslim country.

xo Ashi

Hello Kitty!

While going through our Morocco photos, I realized I spent the entire holiday not photographing the gorgeous scenery or opulent markets, but all the stray cats running around... or shall I say napping in every nook or cranny. Every other snap was feline-related and so I thought I'd share my embarrassingly large collection. You have to admit they are pretty darn cute and I know for a FACT there are many bloggers out there who whole-heartedly support this mild obsession {you know who you are}.

Happy Weekend Kittens!

xo Ashiberry

Taghazout

Taghazout was our home base all throughout our Moroccan adventures. It was hard not to keep going back to the chilled-out surf town on Morocco's Western coast {along the North Atlantic}. Aside from the good surfing it seemed to have everything we needed to relax and stay entertained; a great little breakfast bar, yoga and some of the best Tagine in the country {Moroccon stew slow-cooked in clay dishes}. We stayed at the Surf 'n' Stay apartments run by the charming Chris, an Irish man who's found himself a little piece of paradise in Morocco and wants to share it with the world. Chris is a wealth of knowledge on the area. He takes his guests on wonderful day trips {photos coming up} and hosts some delicious Couscous parties. In other words, we were in great company. Most importantly we managed to find some shady spots to curl up, read some books and practice our pearl stitch {that would be me, not the Brit}. As adventurous as a surf holiday can be we still soaked up our down time and Taghazout and its residents seem to be exactly on that vibe. 

xo Ashi

Surf's Up Morocco

We arrived in Taghazout {one of Morocco's infamous surf spots} in the evening and by the next morning were already up bright & early for our first surf lesson. Luckily we were tipped off to sign up with Surf Berbere, one of Taghazout's most professional and welcoming surf schools. Being summertime the waves are quite tame compared to the notorious winter swells that make this a prime destination for all the pros... but perfect conditions for us beginners. After a lovely rooftop breakfast, gearing up {oh the comedy that is trying to get into a wet suit}, a few warm ups and coaching we were soon in the water trying it for ourselves. I'm proud to say that I was the first one in our group to stand on my board...and then several times throughout the day {such an addictive feeling}. All bragging aside though, I really do believe there's something to be said about the whole beginner's luck theory. After our day-long lesson the Brit and rented some quality gear from an awesome local surf shop called Imourane Surf Island and head out several times on our own to show off our new skills and... well... surf!... but I found it really hard to recreate the first day magic and get back up. We did also encounter much heavier waves then our pleasant first day in the water... which meant for some serious wipe outs. I'm talking flipping over my board, getting pummeled over and over and just generally looking like a drowned rat {much entertainment for the local kids though}. But that incredible first day did leave us with the impression that with much practice and some good coaching that liberating feeling of riding a wave is something we want to find again... that is, once I finally get the ten days with worth of saltwater out of my ears.

xo Ashi