Essaouira

Our parents left us after breakfast, heading back to Marrakech to shop for their store Al-Kahf. Delighted to have free reign, us kids headed straight to the beach. The water was cold but we didn't care. After lapping in the water and sunbathing on the sand, we decided to go looking for lunch in the fortress.

It was a fairly quiet souq, which probably had something to do with it being siesta time. Still, we poked around various sleepy restaurants and cafes before deciding on a tiny little place which smelled heavenly and was brightly painted. There, I and my brothers ordered mini tajines, while my sister ordered spaghetti bolognese. It was delicious. 

via Instagram

Essaouira has a lovely feel to it. It's calm and quiet and peaceful, like the ocean has smoothed away its rough edges. The ancient architecture reminds you of sleeping ghosts, history under every stone and behind every door. It feels...authentic.  

Two days later and our parents had returned. With them came the Muslim holy month, Ramadan. There's nothing like fasting while at the beach. You're simultaneously starving and soothed by the sea-smell. After breaking our fast we headed out together to stroll through the fortress. It was alive with music and people breaking their fasts and enjoying the sights. 

That night we had a magnificent fish dinner so fresh the flavours flooded your mouth. We chose from the catch of the day whilst sitting right on the quay, and it was cooked for us and flavoured with lemon, salt and pepper. My mom was in raptures of delight, she hadn't had seafood like this since she last visited the Bahamas, where she grew up.

​On a whim, we also ordered sea urchins, having never tried them before. They taste like and have the texture of phlegm, salt, and sand. It was gross, but at least I can say I tried it!

Another night, we went for a post-dinner cafe hunt, and found Regragui Cafe and Restaraunt. It's family-owned and run, and the people there were so incredibly friendly, welcoming us like long-lost friends, serving us the best pastilla I've ever had and copious amounts of tea, and excitedly showing us their renovations. They even took us up to their roof!

The sky was so clear that I got an as-seen-by-the-eye shot of the stars!