The Original Jewish Seaside Town

We left Marrakech by bus and headed for the Atlantic Seaside city of Essaourira. The land is very inhospitable between Marrakech and Essaouira. One of the few things that grow in this area is the Argan Tree. The local villages harvest the fruit and grind the seed into oil that they use for cooking and cosmetics. In an unusual process goats climb up in the trees and eat the nuts. They then spread the seed creating new growths. It is very unusual to see goats up in trees but that is the way it happens.

Essaouira is a very ancient seaside city and has gone through many phases. Morocco prides itself in its Jewish Heritage. Jews came to Morocco over two thousand years ago, before Christianity and the Muslim Religion. Morocco has always been tolerant of the Jews. Essaouira was one of the primary Jewish towns in Morocco and is very conscious of its Jewish history. There are still Jews living here even though most have migrated to Israel.

The city also was a major shipping center for slaves to the New World. The Romans conquered the city and it was the source for the purple dye use for royalty. The Portuguese, the Spanish and the French subsequently subjugated it. We are staying in the old town called Medina within the fortification. The Riad (old house converted to an inn) is famous because in the 60’s Jimmy Hendrix stayed here. The city was definitely part of the 60’s culture. It would be very easy to get lost here in the winding narrow old streets. We are very glad we had a guide!

The city itself is everything you would expect a Moroccan old town to be, no cars (unfortunately motorbikes) lots of inhabitants still living in these ancient homes and unfortunately the usual tee-shirt vendors. The tourism is critical to the economy and in the end does not diminish the town.

No need to set an alarm tonight, we are right near a mosque and the call to prayer booms thru our room.