Surf, chill and fish tagine

Leave the noise of Medina and dust’s road and leave direction to calm and tranquillity. South-western Morocco on the Atlantic coast, halfway between Essaouira and Agadir, the little fishing village Imsouane is a haven of peace and beauty.

To go there, we take a beautiful cost road through the campaign. On this road, you can see farmer with his goatherd, dromedary caravan, argan oil sidewalk vendor and lot of beautiful landscapes. Soon arrived to Imsouane, stop on the cliff that overhang the little village and the sea is mandatory!

The charming Imssouane is a very small village: just one main road that through the small village with pink house until the port. Craft fishing and tourism are the main activities and source of income of Imsouane. The village lives to the rhythm of the ocean for decades… Every day all the traditional blue boats leave the port towards the ocean to bring back in their nets fishes, shells and shellfishes.

Into the village, you can find everything you need. The shops sell essentially surf stuff but also some Moroccan traditional gifts. To eat, there are not really restaurants at least it presents as small snack manage by one or two persons with just some table outside. Generally you have to order in advance in order that chef buy what to cook at the port. Indeed, menu depends on fish an arrival that is proof of fresh quality. You can enjoy a delicious tagine or grilled fish.

Imsouane is a famous destination to practice the surf and it considers as the best surf spot in Morocco. Indeed, the village offers two mains spots: “the Bay” and “The Church” where the surfers of the world are meeting up to share their passion. The first one is more for beginner while the second one is just a legend for professional surfers. If you want take the wave, there is a surf school where you can rent surf material and get a good moment.

If you don’t practice surf, no worries! The Imsouane’s surroundings are amazing to walk. Lets you carry along the cliffs … until a small bay only accessible on foot.

The most amazing at Imsouane stay the atmosphere … cradle of peace, conducive to the disconnection.

Some address that I advice you:

To sleep: Hostel Chez Hassan

Take your seat and go to the thousand and one flavors ...

Ranked second best gastronomy in the world after the French gastronomy by WorldSIMS travel blog. The Moroccan cooking originality results from many influences such as Arabic, Berber, Sub-Saharan Africa, Jewish. The savours of all Moroccan dishes are always an invitation to evasion and to travel…

First, the Moroccan cooking’s secret lies in use of many spices and in time to cook very long. The delicious perfumes that escaped from dishes are due to the wide variety of spices. There are minimum 3 different spices by dishes: Saffron, dill, cloves, coriander, ginger, paprika, cumin, pepper, turmeric … the listing is long. The spices are used as in savoury dishes in sweet dishes. Concerning the time, Moroccan dishes are very simmered allowing to flavours and ingredient to meld in and out of each other. Indeed, lot of dishes need an important cooking time like the Couscous F’Taya that requires 3 – 4 hours of cooking. 

Concerning customs, Moroccans have a particular way to share a meal. Generally at the local’s home, dishes are presented you into large platter common and placed in table centre. No cutlery to the table just piece of bread or our finger to catch food. Precisely, you have to eat with three fingers: the thumb, index and middle fingers; room with one finger is the fact of the Devil; two, the fact of the arrogant tyrants, with three, the fact of the prophets; with four or five the fact gluttons. Of course, if you need cutlery we do not blame you. Another custom at the table is to eat with the right hand because the left hand is considered unclean. 

After that, one person seating around the table, generally the most respectable, says “Bismillah” that signified “In the name of God”. Then, just enjoy your piece of the cake that is to say the part of plate in front you. When the meal is finished, the host brings us something to wash hands. 

This particular way to eat is a veritable lesson of living together as such share and respect living space of our neighbour through the practice of unique plate. The typical Moroccan meal represents also equality between all. Example, through the way is placed the meat under the garnitures in the plate to avoid all social affiliations (meat being the more expensive ingredient).

Ali Baba’s cave is at Morocco!

Moroccans craftsman have an unbelievable talent to transform a product of our daily life into a beautiful object. The Moroccans craftsman uses many and varied materials such as leather, wood, clay, wool, etc. They work on these materials with traditional techniques while adding modernity. There are a thousand and one souvenirs gifts manufactured by skilled hands and sold for a cheap price to take home.

In order to immerse into the culture, the typical gifts to buy are slippers “Babouche” and dresses “Djelaba”, these are the typical outfit of Moroccans. In Morocco, men and women wear Djelaba, it is a long dress very confortable with pointed and soft hood, we can find it in all tissues and with all design and colours. Less typical but also a good quality, we can be tempted by cotton clothing handmade that are very wearable.

Babouches are mainly made of leather that is an art of working needing a genuine know-how. We can find bags, footstools, shoes, wallet, etc. meticulously handcrafted. However, don’t be afraid of strong leather smell because leather mainly from goatskins. So the smell is fairly strong but this proves the purity of the material.

Also, the weaving industry is undoubtedly the oldest craft in Morocco. Generations of young girls and women have succeeded behind rudimentary looms for carpet making. The best place to buy Moroccan carpet is Taliouine, located between Agadir and Ourzazate. Indeed, it’s the place where the prices are the cheapest and where you can find the most varieties.

Than, the silver’s price is very competitive in Morocco, so it’s one of the best places to buy silvers jewellery.  Rings, bracelets, necklaces, and hair ornament, you can find any kind of jewellery with genuine gemstone at low price. Also, Gazelle horn is a material very used to made jewellery, associated to silver it gives beautiful jewelry.

Another must-gift is the argan oil that can be find under two forms: cosmetic or edible. The argan tree is located essentially in Morocco and has lots of benefits for the body. In its cosmetic aspect, it's very good for hair and it's good anti ageing skin. It also have very good gastronomic qualities and brings lot of savour to dishes.

For fan of spices, Morocco is the Safran country. This spices is very expensive in European countries but there we can find it at a cheap price. To find it, Taroudant is the best place and also a beautiful city to visit. Generally, we can find all kinds of spices in Morocco.

According to me, the best places to find souvenirs gifts:

To find Argan Oil: Au Bonheur des plantes – Essaouira

To find silver jewellery: City of Zagora –Cooperative handicraftsman

To find carpet: City of Taliouine

To find spices: City of Taroudant

To find cotton clothing: City of Essaouira

To find precious stone: Road from Ouarzazate to Marakech – city of Tizi N Tichka

Essaouira, invitation to relax ...

Essaouira is an essential destination of Morocco, you can’t visit Morocco without going to the famous port city. UNESCO has registered this city in the prestigious list of sites that are the heritage of humanity. Moreover, there are lot of activities to do in Essaouira, no time to be bored. This is an exceptional place of peaceful coexistence between different religions and ethnic groups (Muslims, Jews, Christians ...), a heaven of peace and tolerance among men sharing human values that this cosmopolitan city has cultivated throughout its history.

   

First, the Medina is considered as the heart of the city. There are lot of shops of artisanal product where you can find all kind of wonderful Moroccan artisanal products, delicious Moroccan pastries, etc. Essaouira is deemed to have the most talented Moroccan craftsmen; it’s the paradise of handicrafts for you to buy souvenirs gifts. By trailing around the little street of the Medina, you can enjoy the relaxing and peaceful atmosphere. After this walk, you can visit the famous “Sqala of the Kasbash” that is a platform artillery located on ramparts of the Medina. This place offers incredible sea views and was often used as a scene location for movies and TV series like Game of Thrones.

  

To eat, you can enjoy many restaurants in the Medina, enjoy a delicious couscous or tajine. Or, you can go to the port, witness the return of the fishing boats under the eyes of the seagulls and choose fresh fish among all of these varieties recently arrived in the pans. Than, direction barbecue stand where one charges you to grill your fish, it only remains to enjoy.

The best time to travel to Essaouira is the early summer. Indeed, during this period, Essaouira welcomes since 10 years an international festival of music of the world. During this festival, Gnaouie music, a typical music played in Essaouira, is highlighted. The Gnawa are descendants of African slaves, they practice trance and healing whilst playing a syncopated music accompanied by singing and dancing.

Some address that I recommand :

To sleep: Youth Hostel “La Skala” 

With view on ramparts and sea – 5£/person/night – breakfast on the rooftop 1,15£

26 rue Ibn Rochd, Essaouira, Maroc

To eat: Ferdaouss restaurant 

Traditional cooking, delicious and cheap

‪27, rue Abdessalam Lebadi, Essaouira 44000, Maroc

To go out: Caravane Cafe

Great atmosphere and decoration, Good and dancing traditional music
‪2 bis, Rue du Qadi Aya, Medina, Essaouira, Maroc