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Leaving Marrakech and traveling southwest to the Atlantic coast we traveled across the Valle Harsz, or plains. This was rich farmland, orchards, and vineyards - all with irrigation. The local town of Hanchan had their weekly market on Tuesday so we decided to stop and look around. Our guide decided that I need my head shaved so there are some great pictures taken by my fellow travelers. Our destination was the walled city of Essaouira with a population of about 45,000. It is known for its windy conditions and windsurfers. We walked the narrow alleys of the old city and had lunch at a local restaurant. We were invited to see a former building being converted into a luxury hotel with 24 rooms overlooking the ocean. These pictures were lost when I accidentally deleted them from my camera. The harbor is interesting with numerous small fishing boats and a shipyard still building wood-hulled boats. The ramparts and harbor gate are from the Portuguese influence. The land between the coast and the plains is rocky and flat but ideal place for Argan trees to grow. Local goats actually climb the thorned branches to eat the larger nuts and then eliminate the smaller hard nuts used in Argan oil. We stopped at a local co-op in the town of Tioute to watch the ladies make the oil. |
