Aug 18

Aug 18 "Solo Adventure to Essaouira" by Lauren Ross

This trip was hectic and calm at the same time. I was convinced by my language partner that I could not waste any free time as I only have 3 weekends before I return home. If I want to truly see this beautiful country, I must take advantage of every free self-directed day and even free time after school. Unfortunately, we had this talk on a Thursday morning. With the weekend so close, I knew that I did not have time to plan a trip to a new city all by myself. Luckily my mother visited Morocco last year and made a great friend and tour guide in Essaouira named Said. He has helped my mother find art and even offers to help me with my Arabic homework! He had become a family friend and I knew he would be willing to help me in any way I needed.

With his help on Thursday night, I booked a train ticket to Marrakesh for Friday after class and a Supratour from Marrakesh to Essaouira early Saturday morning. I knew Essaouira was his main area of expertise so while I had his help to find a beautiful riad there, I ventured to find one in Marrakesh by myself. Since I left after school, I did not arrive in Marrakesh until 10:30 and my riad was in the Old Medina (just a stone’s throw from the famous Jemma el-Fna square). While the riad was amazing and in a great location, being inside the medina meant that I could not take a taxi directly to the riad. Instead, the host of the hotel provided the nearest entrance (Bab) to the riad, and I would have to walk from there. I would be alone, in the dark, and in a medina that is easy to get lost in during the day!

Many call the young boys who come up to your taxi and offer to walk you to your destination a nuisance, but I believe Amin was my savior. He helped me with my bags and had many jokes and stories and even let me practice my Arabic on the way to the riad. Without him, I would still be wandering the medina in Marrakesh and would have never made it to Essaouira! Upon arrival to Riad Agdim in Marrakesh, the host was everything you could ask for. Due to COVID and low tourism, I was the only person staying in the riad, so he made it his duty to ensure I felt at home. He surely succeeded and the icing on the cake was the extravagant breakfast that was included in the booking. He made sure I found my way to my Supratour on time, and off I was to my intended destination.

As you can see in the video, Said ensured that the city of Essaouira did not disappoint. To the wonderful views that even the Game of Thrones production crew could not resist, to the fresh fish that you can pick and have cooked for lunch— Essaouira is a wonder. If you are also traveling alone, I would recommend finding a trusted local tour guide to help you around the city. This will ease any fears of safety you may have and ensure that you get the best deals in the medina. Essaouira is surely a must see and often overlooked city in Morocco!