|
|
   |
Essaouira, the Well Drawn
The town of Essaouira is a coastal city of Morocco, on the Atlantic edge. Formerly called Mogador, the city owes its name to the fact that it is one of the rare cities to have a plan of town planning. Indeed, « Es Saouira » means « the Well Drawn ». The town planning is accomplished by French : Théodore Cornut. The big straight streets of Medina are cut by doors which must break the trade wind.
Essaouira
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
The first thing you can see when you entrance to the town, it is the harbour. The contrast between the bright red of the fishing lines and the blue of boats is wholly impressive.
The harbour of Essaouira
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
The harbour and the ramparts
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
Fishing lines and boats
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
you enter Medina by crossing ramparts by the « Door of Navy » which separates the harbour of the old city.
The Door of Navy
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
The ramparts of Essaouira
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
A door of the Medina
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
The ramparts of Essaouira
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
The centre of Medina is occupied by the huge market: the souk Jdid. In this souk mix colours, tastes and especially... smells! you can find there stands of spices, fruits and vegetables, a lot or of wooden objects of thuyas (a speciality of local trade), but also of the fish and the meat.
The city of Essaouira is often nicknamed the « blue city » and numerous doors, gates and shutters are not there to contradict us...
A door of the Blue City
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
Gates of the Blue City
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
Unfortunately, Essaouira is victim of the success and the geographical situation. The ocean and the powerful Trade winds make of this small coastal city, a seaside city in potency. Numerous complex hotelkeepers are in building nowadays and it will be more of 17km concreted coasts which will receive the visitors over the years.
The beach of Essaouira
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
The beach of Essaouira
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
To finish, I recommend you to stop you near the harbor in one of numerous shacks offering grilled fish. You will not regret it...
The restaurants of grilled fish
(click on the photo to enlarge)
|
|
|
