Travel Journal
-
Road trip in Morocco: Christmas in the middle of an oasis (part 1/3)
Today we take the CTM bus from Essaouira to Marrakech. If we come back to Marrakech it’s to go on a roadtrip for a week with Aurélien, with whom we already left last year to visit the temples of Angkor. One year later, we meet again to celebrate Christmas and New Year together in what we hope will be a memorable roadtrip to Morocco. This trip was entirely organized following the advice of Lonely Planet. Both for the itinerary but also for the hotels and restaurants. This is the first time that we blindly follow their advice, we will see if they are wise (we aren’t sponsored by them). Note:…
-
Discovery of the traditional Ghita hammam in Essaouira (Morocco)
After Hungary, Japan, South Korea and Turkey, we continue our world tour of public baths in Morocco. It is in Essaouira, a few minutes walk from our accommodation that we go to the Ghita Hammam. This Hammam is far away from the tourist areas of the city, so get ready for a truly popular experience. The place isn’t used to welcome tourists and the staff doesn’t necessarily speak French very well, so here are a few indications so that you aren’t too lost like us the first time 🙂 1/ Come with your equipment Unlike the tourist spas where you can come with your hands in your pockets, this is…
-
Visit of the surroundings of Essaouira (Morocco) in 4×4: Travel Notes #3
Today, we explore the surroundings of Essaouira with a 4×4. Our landlord gave us the contact of a rental company who (with a little delay anyway), dropped the car off just in front of our house. 400dh (about 40€) and a few signatures later, the case is heard, we have it for one day. Note: the contact details of the car rental company are marked at the bottom of the article. Part 1: Travel Diary Argan oil: Cooperative Kaouki We start with the visit of an argan oil production cooperative, whose great uncle JB’s (who lives here) told us a lot of good things. We cross a field of argan…
-
Around Essaouira #2: Visit of Had Draa souk (Morocco)
As you may know, we are currently in Essaouira for 1 month. The owner of our apartment in Essaouira advised us to visit the souk of Had Draa which takes place every Sunday and is located about 20 kilometers from Essaouira. It is an authentic Berber market, far from the tourist attraction of the medina. Our owner advises us to go there in the morning because the cattle market ends quite early. Anh prefers to sleep in, so I’m going alone. The owner told us that collective cabs leave from the station to get there. So I leave at 8 am and go to the CTM bus station which is…
-
Essaouira (Morocco) #1: First impressions
After 3 hours by bus with the company CTM (which we recommend), we finally arrive in Essaouira. We are welcomed by our owner of Airbnb, who comes to pick us up by car at the bus station, it’s too nice since the station is only 5 minutes walk from the Airbnb, we could have come by ourselves. Here is the video of our large apartment (F4, 3 bedrooms). The apartment is located in the modern part of the city. This apartment costs us only 20€/night for a monthly rental, a real bargain. Essaouira doesn’t cost much anyway, but having such a clean, big, well located one… we were lucky. Moreover,…
-
Marrakech (Morocco): First impressions
After an express passage to Casablanca, we are in a bus to Marrakech (3 hours with the company CTM, which we recommend). We’ve heard a lot of good and a lot of bad about this city and want to make our own opinion. That’s why we book an Airbnb for only a week when we usually book for a month. If we don’t like it, we can quickly go somewhere else. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Our Airbnb The rates are so cheap that we opt for a privatized riad, with 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Just for us. 30€/night. In order to extend…
-
Passing through Casablanca, visit of the Hassan II Mosque (Morocco)
After Egypt, we decided to continue exploring North Africa by going to Morocco. The cheapest ticket being Cairo – Casablanca. We stayed a few days in Casablanca to work, before taking the bus to Marrakech. It’s the very first time we visit Morocco, it makes us super weird that people speak to us in French everywhere 🙂 then, between them, they speak Arabic. Perfectly bilingual! Those who work in tourism speak Spanish very well in addition. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary The work As we were away for 12 days for our vacation in Egypt, our customers were waiting for us impatiently, and…
-
Day 12 in Egypt: Visit of Islamic Cairo
Today is our last day in Egypt. Good things go by quickly, too quickly Reminder: if you haven’t done so yet, please read our previous travel diaries in Egypt first: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10 and 11 We look at the Sphinx one last time during breakfast from the terrace of the hotel. We are going to miss this place a lot, despite the chaos, the noise, the pollution.. Today’s program is very simple: wander around Islamic Cairo. All our suitcases are kept in the car with the driver and JB just walks around with our most precious belongings in a backpack (computers, passports…) I…
-
Days 10 & 11 in Egypt: Cairo Museum, the Sphinx, the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqarah
Reminder: if you haven’t done so yet, please read our previous travel diaries in Egypt first: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 and #9 We leave Aswan early in the morning for a flight to Cairo at 8:55 am. Unfortunately, our flight is two hours late and we are bored like dead rats at the airport. The day before, I made a bad manipulation on my phone. My Egyptian line is blocked, we don’t have Internet or phone at all. Fortunately that our guide, who led us to the airport, was aware of the delay and warned our guide in Cairo. From the plane, sitting on the right,…
-
Day 9 in Egypt: Abu Simbel, Unfinished Obelisk & Back to Philae
It is impossible for me to sort the photos of Abu Simbel. This place is so magical for me and I feel a deep well-being there. I will show you a lot of pictures. I hope they will do you good too 🙂 Reminder: if you haven’t done so yet, please read our previous travel diaries in Egypt first: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8 Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary So the day before, I went there to watch the sound and light show at the Abu Simbel temples, it was beautiful. Today, we get up early (4:30 in the…
