Essaouira, Morocco

Essaouira is the Moroccan's high adventure beach area and playground.  The City is small, has the standard walled in old area (medina), and a good sized corniche (main road along the beach).  There are tons of surfers, kite surfers, wind surfers and paddle boarders strewn along the beaches.  Really is a pretty sight,  In addition to the adventure sports enthusiasts, there are dozens of horses and camels going up and down the beach.  Some for tourists, and some just Moroccans making their way down the beach.  Like all of Morocco, Essaouira is a dichotomy of old meeting new.   

Camel Train on the Beach

Kite Surfers and Camels

I am staying in an area about 40 miles south of the City.  The ride between the two areas is just beautiful with twisties, small villages and Argan tree plantations all around. After my stay here, I will be making my way to the north to the ferry and be departing the African continent.  I would like to have seen more of Africa, but ISIS has their claws in here pretty well and I only see the situation escalating. It would be a shame if Morocco fell in into their hands as these people are just some of the nicest people on the planet.  There used to be a famous off road race that was held in Europe and Northern Africa called the Paris-Dakar rally, it ran from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, (just below Morocco and Mauritania). However, do to ISIS's entrance into Mauritania, the Dakar is now held in South America.  Its a bit of a shame.  

Stage Distance: 148 mi

Total Trip Distance: 2,182 mi
Total Odometer Distance: 3,641 mi

Countries Visited (Leg 2): USA, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Morocco
Leg 1:  https://dualsportamericas.blogspot.com