My first real vacation

I went back home to Casablanca in November of last after a long absence, but it was not a real vacation. This time around I went all out! Went by Madrid for an evening to visit Laura, then headed to Morocco for the Gnaoua festival d’Essaouira. I’m writing this after the first night at Essaouira. I have not had time to listen to much music, so I’ll just write of the trip which was memorable.

It started out in Madrid where Laura was nice enough to house me. We went out at night to Galicean restaurant and had or usual fun. Madrilians are fun! Left the next day for Morocco.

After spending the day in Casablanca rediscovering my new and improved childhood home (more on this in a coming post), we had a dinner with some old friends. My mom went all out as she usually does at these things. The next day we headed south for Essaouira, a 400 km drive along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The highlight of the trip was the lunch break at the oyster farm located in the Eloualidia lagoon (picture). After a 2 1/2 hrs long lunch we headed back to the road.

We arrived at Essaouira in total chaos. The festival last year attracted some 400,000 souls, and in a small coastal town it is, shall we say, noticeable. To be continued ….