Beautiful stops and sites discovered in Morocco in March (page 6 of 18)

The next morning at breakfast, we chat for a while with other travelers and realize people are starting to have issues with their return flights. Some flights are canceled with no replacements. Tourists who had a flight to Bordeaux are forced to return to Nantes... We wonder about ours too... But we still have several days ahead and no news from Transavia, so we're not too worried!

Since it's Sunday, we decide to visit the Had Draa souk, about twenty kilometers from Essaouira. It's a very rural souk that attracts a lot of locals from the area, but we hardly see any other tourists. What surprises us the most is the number of butchers gathered at this market.



And the number of barbers setting up their tents just for the day. An entire street is dedicated to them... Surprising!





Enclosed areas are reserved for animals, parked there while waiting for their owners to return or to be sold. The men present explain that the situation is tough—due to lack of rain, feed for the livestock is scarce. And they have to sell... at low prices!





The bread seller



The canteen—or rather, one of the canteens:



We found this souk different from the ones we'd seen before. Really interesting too. Worth checking out if you're staying in Essaouira.

It’s a souk I’d noted to visit—maybe next time....

Right now, so many barbershops—it’s a real luxury that’s starting to be missed!!!

Not sure if they can still operate... Morocco went through lockdown too!

Without a doubt, they’re dealing with the same routine!

The drought had already weakened part of the population, and COVID-19 isn't going to help things! Such a shame!

On this Monday morning, after breakfast, we head a bit inland, about twenty kilometers from Essaouira via Ghazoua. We discover a countryside full of charm, with vast open spaces, stone walls, beautiful properties surrounded by large flower-filled gardens, and herds here and there.



At the entrance of the village of Ida Ougourd, donkeys are patiently waiting for their owners. The villagers explain that their masters have gone to work in Essaouira by bus and will retrieve their mounts after their workday.





Few small shops are open—it’s a village that must come alive for the souk... If we come back one day, we’ll try to plan for that...



Today, most of the doors are closed... But it’s still beautiful! It’s even *very* beautiful!

We grab some supplies for a little picnic and head back toward the coast.

What a treat this travel journal is, thanks again!

I always enjoy it so much—I just saw your itinerary, which I missed by just a few days, but I’m ready to go as soon as it’s possible, and your travel journal led me to places I’d love to revisit. A big thank you.

This is pretty much the route I was planning to take this spring... So I'm following you very, very closely... And I can't wait to take the same path. It's amazing! From start to finish!

What a beautiful country! What a lovely itinerary! Well done

Off to the village of Oussane, facing the sea, on a terrace, nicely settled in for a picnic after passing the large Amogdoul wind farm.



Here, we’re surprised to come across camels that don’t work in tourism but in transporting various materials.



A short digestive hike along the ocean toward Cap Sim and back to Essaouira for a stroll around the port before heading to Saïef for dinner.

That evening, on the way back, we hear on the radio that lockdown has been announced. We decide to head to Marrakech the next day, especially since we still haven’t heard anything about our return flight... We had a really great time in Essaouira. Thanks to Nadia and Thierry for their hospitality and professionalism.

Thanks for these images of dromedaries that put the animal in a different context. I’m waiting for the end of the story while in lockdown....

Re.

Wow! You really have to want to get to this village—it’s totally authentic.

Later!

And thanks for this lovely travel journal and its beautiful photos for brightening up our day for a while! 😊

The trip seems to be coming to an end, and it’s kept me captivated right until the last moment. It’s been amazing!

Wow Danielle, your travel journal is amazing—it’s so well done that I feel like I’m there...

Reading through it, I’m reminded that I’m not wrong when I tell people: don’t go to the other side of the world, just head to Morocco! It’s not far, and the change of scenery is guaranteed, not to mention the colors, the climate, the food, and so much more!!

Thanks for sharing this with all of us😉

Best regards

Thanks Laure. That’s really kind of you. Have a great evening.

Back in Marrakech on Tuesday, March 17... The Moroccan government has just ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants across the country. And it's being respected everywhere. We won’t see anything open from Essaouira to Marrakech except for grocery stores...

In Marrakech, we’re staying at Hôtel Toulousain since we’d booked 3 nights there, with our departure planned for Friday morning. In the evening, we dine at the hotel since everything in the city is closed. There are still a few of us at the hotel, and everyone is worried about getting home.

We only find out the day before that our flight to Nantes is canceled... After much searching, we manage to book another flight and go for a walk in the city. Everything is deserted, or nearly so. Hardly any traffic, no shops open.





And then, a little unexpected surprise... A street vendor selling poultry, pushing his cart through the city streets!

That evening, we learn that our second flight is also canceled... Things are getting complicated...

We make a quick trip to the airport, but it’s useless since they’re not selling tickets there.

Back at the hotel, everyone is glued to their phones, hoping to find a flight to Nantes—everything’s canceled. So we start looking for flights to Paris... but that’s tricky too. Just as we’re about to head back to our room, the hotel owner, who we rarely see, coldly informs us—without any emotion—that he’s decided to close the hotel because it’s no longer profitable. There are only 3 of us left after a last-minute cancellation due to coronavirus... It’s 4:30 PM.

Faced with our distress, the receptionist gives us a few addresses in the neighborhood and offers to keep our luggage for a little while, giving us time to find something else.

And yes... We’re shocked... But that’s how it is... Business is business... No sentiment involved. We’ll know better next time if we return to Marrakech—we’ll change hotels!

We find a room for the night at Hôtel Gomassine, which was also planning to close but agrees to give us a room for the night to help us out... And that allows us to book a flight for the next day—a flight that, this time, isn’t canceled, though we’re still nervous until the very end... a flight to Orly. In the morning, we have to leave early for the airport... The breakfast buffet is ready at 6 AM... Really perfect... We hope we’ll have the chance to return to this hotel under better circumstances to thank them properly.

At Orly, we rent a car to drive to Nantes and pick up our own car.

There you have it... That’s how this trip ends—a journey where we really enjoyed ourselves. I also enjoyed these little daily meet-ups with all of you on this forum. I’m sure I’ll miss them a bit in the coming days.

Take care, and see you soon.

Thanks so much!