Day 3 - Essaouira

It wasn’t even an early start this morning but as we explored the city walls where Game of Thrones was once filmed, as well as visiting the docks and boatyards, the city was almost asleep with the exception of fishermen and seafood traders and the odd orange juice shop. I guess Moroccan’s don’t like an early start.

Overnight, Anna was hit with a photography bug as she was on a quest to get as many photos this morning as she could. Despite 90% of the photos being of stray kittens, she took in the hidden sights as Aoife and I watched about 20 men guide a boat back in the water from the dock. The person in charge of holding the rope in a tug of war style had the boat in his right hand and his morning shopping in his left. Not a care in the world.

Morocco is so cheap and we still can’t get over the prices sometimes. 3x omelettes, 3x orange juice, 2x coffee’s and 1x hot chocolate, as well as a basket of bread with butter and marmalade didn’t even cost us £10…and it was nice!

Essaouira is coined the windy city of Africa but it would just be our luck that these two days were the calmest days in weeks - even the locals couldn’t believe how calm it was. Our plans of surfing, kitesurfing or windsurfing were quietly put to bed so we needed a plan B.

Anna found a hotel with a rooftop pool and she was planning to blag her way into. Having introduced us as Instagram influencers, we were invited up to take some pictured and drinks, and they would work on access to the pool for us. Fair play to Anna but poor work from the hotel - they didn’t even check how many followers we had and later I found out I even had some toothpaste on my shorts walking through the 5 star hotel. Cheers Heure Bleue Palais!

After a rooftop drink and photoshoots galore, we left to visit the beach instead. On our way, I booked bus tickets for tomorrow and used impeccable french in booking them if I do say myself. Whilst I was getting money out from an ATM, a man approached Aoife to sell activities. Aoife was all ears and before we knew it, all 3 of us were hooked and signed up for horse riding. Hopefully not a scam!

Our visit to the beach was enjoyable until the tide rudely interrupted our sleeping and reading, suddenly arriving at our beach beds without even a warning. We took this as a sign to move and so we returned home via a lunch stop and a few Moroccan clothing purchases to get ready for the horses.

Despite having once shared ownership of 2 racing horses, I’d never been on a horse but I felt that a 5 minute tutorial might give me the basics before we trotted off. Not today. Our instructor, who of course was wearing a cowboy hat and had the charisma and confidence of a seasoned horse rider, told me that it was all about emotions. The horse feels what you feel and so just let him feel you and guide you. I guess it makes sense that my horse kept stopping to eat the leaves from the trees.

Anna was a natural at it and was cantering away with the instructor up the top. Aoife and I were stuck on first gear way behind with Aoife even claiming that her horse was broken. All in all, it was a pleasant experience and for the same price as our breakfast, well worth it for a stroll along the beach. I still feel bad for the poor horse taking me over the dunes - he definitely got the short straw carrying me!

A quick shower and change to get the sand and water off us, and horse urine off Aoife - don’t ask - we were off to Taros again for dinner at sunset.  The vibe was just as described and the 5 piece band entertained the crowd, who were literally all dancing away and having a great time. A brilliant spot for a night in Essaouira! Although the band were brilliant, they did 4 stints of 20mins before a 45 minute break so between 8pm and 11pm, they played only for 1hr20. That’s the laid back Moroccan culture for you!