Essaouira

Waiting at Gare des Voyages in Casablanca for the train to Marrakesh and onward bus to Essaouira. Likely to be a long day though.

It seems that everybody here. smokes. ( men not women ) and all cafes and waiting areas are full on fug. It's just what they do here... but when you're used to the smoke free public places in Europe or Oz, dealing with streaming eyes is difficult.

Unusually the train was late, held up by the previous train, which meant it roared into the station with the guard hanging out of an open door in the engine yelling something in Arabic.

Then there was the usual scramble when it stopped only this time it was so much worse with people pushing and shoving and the train moving off with people still on the steps. The corridor was jammed so we had to shove our way along and stand in the melee.

We eventually found seats after about 45 minutes in a compartment with some South Africans and a Moroccan woman with three kids. It was exceptionally hot and noisy but the 3 1/2 hours passed eventually and we made it to Marrakesh, found the bus to Essaouria and jumped on it. That was another 2 1/2 hours but this time we has seats and it was air conditioned.

Arrival in Essaouria was to the usual crowd of clamouring taxi touts, several of whom started fighting, but by now we just ignore them and move swiftly away, walking into town and finding a hotel for 23 quid for the two of us. It's a nice little place right in the town centre and the wifi works. Hurrah. A shower is next on the agenda then some food.

The Square in Essaouira