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| Local hammam |
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| Locally made wooden products for sale |
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| Ramparts |
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| Where there is fish, there is seagulls |
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| Freshly caught seafood |
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| Fishing trawlers |
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| Deep in conversation whilst sitting on fishing nets |
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| Some of the seafood is bizarre looking |
Guided tour of Essaouria first to orient ourselves. We were taken to the mellah (Jewish Quarter - currently only 5 Jewish families live in the area now), then through the medina to the ramparts where cannons are lined up, and to the port where the fishermen were arriving with their catches. An absolute kodak moment! We were then taken to a wood and silver jewellry cooperative (employ local people to produce the goods and sales go back to the community). I could've done some serious damage to the credit card but since I have only been travelling 5 weeks to date, I restrained myself!
Lunch was a seafood feast at the port consisting of bbq'd shrimp, sardines, scampi, calamari, 2 types of fish, Moroccan salad, bread and lemonade. It was full of flavour and so fresh.
After lunch I wandered around with 2 of the girls...more shoping and looking out for a hammam. The plan was for a final one before leaving but we decided to leave it as there were too many streets to continue to explore.
Gin and tonic for happy hour, then out again for dinner and to experience the night life. The Moroccans are night owls - they start later in the morning and eat their dinner about 10pm.
Dinner for us this time was not with the group. Four of us took off in search of another good seafood meal. After consulting Lonely Planet we ended up at a restaurant called Le 5 or After 5 and it was perfect except they played western music and we wanted more Gnawa.
We all had a couple of drinks - cocktail and wine. My meal was pastry filled with fresh goats cheese with a fig sauce, and then a main of salt-crusted bream with a ratatoui of vegetables. Fabulous meal then finished with mint tea.
After wandering around the city after dinner we got in quite late. Was a great final night in Essa.
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