Magical Morocco - Round trip part I.

African sunsets, Moroccan pottery, mint tea, yummy foodie - it all comes to our mind when we are thinking of this exotic country. I've been planning to visit Morocco for a while now, this place has been on my bucket list for about 2 years. I finally spent there a week and I'm proud to say, that I managed to see everything I planned. Even though I was quite exhausted of traveling about 1600 km within a week, still it's like a sweet fatigue to me. I don't think I can ever get tired of exploring new places. This month I'm showing you my first few days in this unique African country.

Essaourira - the windy city

After landing in Agadir, I was heading directly to the breezy Atlantic coast, the city of Essaourira. The charming town is very well-known for it's long, sandy beach, it's the perfect coastal gateway after visiting the big, dazzling cities like Fes or Marrakech. Due to the often windy weather, it's also surfers' paradise, you can enroll into a surf class.

The souk is a traditional market place, the one in Essaourira has a different atmosphere, it's more laid back and relaxed than markets all around the country. Medina is like a labyrinth of little narrow streets in the old town, where you can buy basically everything, a typical landmark in every city. It's very easy to get lost, especially in the bigger ones like  Fes or Marrakech. Each medina has a unique atmosphere, it's a good idea to visit them all, just for a short walk, wandering around, watching the locals, getting the vibes. 

I had a coffee on the main square, than I had a look at the fortress, that's overlooking the harbor. The city's name was originally 'Mogador' which means 'little fortress'. The town was constructed according to European military architecture in the mid 18th century. It used to be an important port and with it's beautiful ramparts and ocean view, it belongs to the must-see attractions in Morocco.

I chose a hotel with style, a traditional house was renovated and transformed into an accommodation: Palazzo Desdemona was clean, nicely furnished, the room was spacious and quiet at night, the Moroccan breakfast was just divine. It was located in the center, very close to the Medina and the beach. I would happily return.

Casablanca - The diverse metropolis

Everybody knows the film Casablanca, it's probably the most quoted film even nowadays. However the romantic drama starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman was not shot in Casablanca, but in a Hollywood studio, still the city itself served as an inspiration and set the mood of the film. With not expectations I arrived to the largest city of Morocco on a sunny afternoon and chose to stay in a modern flat this time, Appartement Luxe Annasee was a great choice, nice, tidy flat close to the Mosque and what an amazing view!

I was walking down the street to catch the sunset at the mosque, next morning I visited the iconic place inside too. The sea at Casablanca center is wild and mysterious, but it's not for swimming.

There are some very modern buildings on the pathway next to the mosque, offices and private flats mainly.

I was looking for a special place for dinner, my host at the flat said, I should find La Sqala Cafe Maure , I loved the atmosphere of the place, plus food was delicious. Even tough it looked like a touristic place, I didn't mind. I had mint tea, it's an important part of the culture, making tea here is a real art. It is poured from very high up, this way foam is created. In case there is no foam, something must be wrong with the tea. I also tried beef tagine, I loved the spices and how fresh it was.

Hassan II Mosque

I was lucky to join an English group next morning, there are scheduled guided tours. The largest mosque of Morocco can host up to 25.000 prayers, it is stunning from outside and inside as well: hand-crafted marble walls, Italian chandeliers, Moorish influence with Moroccan architecture. It's built partly on water, it raises above the ocean. During the tour you can also visit the Hamam bath under the mosque, where prayers wash themselves before praying. This place is the best part of Casablanca, stop here for an hour and enjoy the special mood!

These were my first few days in Morocco, afterwards I was heading to the mountains and discovered the natural beauties, that will be revealed in the next chapter. Get some trend inspirations with Africa inspired colors on the FASHION page, and if you would like to give a Moroccan atmosphere to your pool area at home, HERE are some tips for you.