On 18 February 2018, I had the privilege of visiting the extraordinary port city of Essaouira, Morocco.

It was a day trip from the magnificent city of Marrakesh.

I was with a group of tourists from around the world. We were all eager to experience this city. I did my research; it was on top of my list of places to visit. It exceeded all my expectations.

Let’s start with this tip. Please forget about arranging your day trips using the hotel’s concierge service. Usually, they are overpriced. My hotel told me it would cost me $300. I got it for $30 in the Old Souq. And the price was not the only issue with booking it from the hotel; the staff told me that I would be on my own in the hotel’s shuttle. Who wants to be alone on a day trip!

As a traveler, you should always meet new people from around the world. Now, let’s head to Essaouira. I went to the agreed pick up point. I boarded the bus early to book my seat next to the door to get some extra leg space. Then, I smiled and greeted the tourists around me.

The trip was around three hours. I kept admiring the sceneries along the way until we reached the only photo stop during the journey. And what a stop! It was a large tree with many goats on its branches.

I loved this stop because it reminded me of the Old Golden Days in our village. This was a familiar scene. After taking so many pictures and selfies with the goats, we moved on. We had another stop for the restrooms. And you should not worry about the cleanliness; they were spotlessly clean. To use them, you need to pay a meager amount. And once you are done, you can browse the gifts shop and, of course, you are bound to see a collection of products made of the famous Argan Oil made in Morocco.

We continued on our trip, and when we arrived, our driver announced: “You have four hours from now.” The city deserves more than that, but this is life. Time is limited for everything we do. I sat out to make the best out of this time. In my mind, I had one picture that I had to take before going back to Marrakesh – The Blue Boats. Everything else was a bonus to me.

I deliberately did not use Google Maps this time. I wanted to be lost in this extraordinary city. The first thing I saw was the calm beach. It was empty as it was cold. During the summer, you would be lucky to find a spot to sunbathe.

The sound of the waves was so soothing. I took off my shoes and socks and walked on the cold sand. It was a great feeling. I was gratified because this was the first time I saw the North Atlantic Ocean. This was part of my plan. Next, I headed the Essaouira Citadel Walls. When I arrived, I was surprised by the strong waves breaking at the rocks. I thought this the perfect setting for taking great pictures and videos.

I climbed the wall and walked towards the beach to get closer to the rocks. I took a few photos and videos. But I was greedy. I imagined this: “How about getting so close, take a video for the breaking waves, and the water splashes get directly to my phone lenses. That would be phenomenal!” I started climbing the rocks getting deeper and deeper.

I chose my perfect spot. I hid behind a big rock. I started timing the waves. I switched my phone camera to video. I moved to the left to catch a wave, but it caught me! I was drenched in water from head to toe. It was cold, and it was windy. My phone stopped working immediately. I will never forget this experience and its lessons are:

• 1) Be prepared with a raincoat.
• 2) Protect your phone or camera. The good thing is I always travel with a spare phone! After this wet experience, I headed to the Souq area, exploring it and admiring the Moroccan Architecture.
  I tried two things:
• 1) The Sugar Cane Juice. It was refreshing.
• 2) I could not resist the smell of the freshly baked bread. I bought one. I did not eat it; I gobbled it down! It was so tasty.
  
  After refueling, I continued taking a random walk until I reached the Christian Cemetery, and from here, I made a U-Turn to go back to achieve one of my main objectives – Taking photos of the Blue Boats. I went back towards the fort. And behind it, were the boats.
  This is the time when I wished I had a traveling partner because no one took a decent photo for me with the boats. This could be your third lesson from this article. To take good shots, take a partner with you! I looked at my watch, and I thought: “There is time to squeeze a quick visit to the Old Fort.”
  The views from the top were breathtaking! The structure of the fort is still strong, and there are copper cannons pointed toward the ocean. I wish I had more time here. After the sightseeing, it was time to reward myself with a delicious meal. And there was no way I was going to have a pizza in Essaouira. Fish was the only option! After all, it is a port city.
  
  Fishermen sell their catch of the day immediately when they return from their trips. It could not get fresher than this, from the boat to the charcoal grills! I ordered sea bass. It was so tasty.
  
  And it was the last highlight from my visit to the extraordinary city of Essaouira!