Essaouira City Tour - Day 2

THE ELECTRIC BLUE OF THE BOATS in the harbor honors the nearby Purple Islands. It is there that murex shells were harvested by Essaouiran fishermen to produce Phoenician purple, a color favored by royalty throughout the centuries. The walk with our local guide took us to see this sea of blue fishing boats. Apparently, this is one of the sights for which Essaouira is known. 

El Marsa is the magnificent gateway to the scala port. It is also called the Porte Marina. This gate was built in the eighteenth century. There are some Arabic inscriptions on the triangle that praise Allah and name the ruler and states the date it was built. All the visitors entering the Medina from the port side see this inscription and the three signs showing interfaith harmony namely the Islamic Crescent, the Christians Scallop of Santiago and the Jewish Star of David

Wherever there is fish, there will be cats.

We aren't Thronies, but it is still interesting to know that the Game of Thrones featured Essaouira's ramparts and the Scala du Port. The views are gorgeous from these areas.

Bayt Dakira or the House of Memory is a Jewish Museum in the old Jewish quarter of the medina.

The medina shopping streets are full of interesting art, products, doors...and cats. The beautiful electric blue on the fishing boats appears throughout the medina (old town).

I don't remember why the little BBQ was burning. The dog and cats like their spots.

The Fish Market is a popular cat hangout in the middle of the square. We purchased a small rug at a nearby shop.

Coopérative Mogador Dag Souiri was a jewelry cooperative where we had the opportunity to buy hand-painted and custom silver jewelry. (I hope our guides got a cut of what we tourists spent there!) It is a very attractive area, complete with mama cat and her frisky kittens.

Bob always has some treats to share.

Essaouira was my favorite city for the low-key shopping, photo opps, and the cats! It was great to have two nights here.

Gnawa music and henna painting were our evening entertainment with some light snacks. The traditional Moroccan music uses heavy metal castanets called krakeb and a 3-string guitar-like instrument called a sintir. Tassel twirling is also a feature of the dance and the two young men with the krakeb were very good at the twirling. I wondered how their hats stayed on! I wish I could put the video on blogger but it doesn't seem to accept them. Those castanets were very loud, like banging two pans together. Although it wasn't my favorite, I'm glad that I got to hear it. 

Here's a sample of the music and dancing from our concert night.

Bob and I both had our first henna art; Bob's dragon turned out great!