safi to ounara (for essaouira)

tuesday: woke up to the dismal sound of rain on the roof! but that quickly changed to sunshine!
HORRAY!
decided last night that we'd move on from safi today, without stopping to check out the pots (be
a bit too tempting to buy lots!), as the weather forecast for essaouira, further down the coast,
is very good for the next few days, and we are keen to find some sun!
packed up sharpish, after brekkie, paid up and onto the road pretty early, about 9.00am (MT).
stopped at marjane, supermarket, to get some more food bits and then headed down the coast road
towards ounara, two hours or so away, and a small campsite about 23km from essaouira.
drove through safi, which actually looked rather nice - very chilled compared to other cities we've
been to + pretty tidy and clean too.
once we got onto the coast road we were absolutely stunned - no wonder its a surfers paradise -
the waves were massive, and just kept rolling in! we sat and watched the ocean for a while and then
reluctantly got on our way.
just on the outskirts of safi somekind of demo passed us - not sure what it was - lots of moroccans
in vans waving flags and tooting! (it didn't seem too aggressive and they all smiled and waved at us!).
we passed through some wonderful moroccan towns on the way, lots of markets in progress, and
an almost continual procession of loaded up donkeys and people on the roads.
the sun shone all the way - and it really does make all the difference! we really enjoyed the rather
bone-crunching journey!
we arrived at the site in ounara at about 2pm; camping des oliviers, and its really lovely - the book had
given it a v. good review back in 2009 and its still good! - right up our street too, only 30 pitches.
its not busy either, so we have a great sunny spot, next to a couple of french vans.
there are really good facilities a stones throw away and the whole place feels very serene and cared for.
chatted to an english couple in a car, doing a recce, windsor and dee, for a bit - oldtimers here in
morocco, they first came 12 years ago! - they were from folkestone! what a small world! : )
we have decided we will stay here a couple of days, maybe more, and scoot into essaouira - see what
its like....supposed to be a chilled out surfing town....
sun still out, lovely and warm, and as we have a good internet connection too - it's BIG smiles all
round : )

wednesday: woke to a sunny day! now thats more like it : )
peaceful night at the site, no noise at all - plus v. nice not to hear the pitter patter of rain!
most of the french vans have left this am, but new ones have arrived! there's lots of activity....
p washed the van, c washed hair (major job!) and tidied inside, now we're going to have lunch and sit in
the sunshine for a bit and just chill out.
we may scoot into essaouira this aft. and check it out, also maybe some other campsites (that are a bit
nearer to it), but will def. walk into the small town of ounara, as its only round the corner.
we are really liking this site - its got a lovely feel to it, and everyone who works here is very friendly and
helpful; we may get a home cooked tagine for dinner tonight - as food is available from reception: ) -
we haven't had much moroccan food since we've been here, and it will save us some gas too!

thursday: another glorious day! : )
walked into town yesterday aft., ounara - very small place, extremely moroccan! i.e. not touristy. p had
another moroccan hair cut (too short! - not sure they understand what a trim is!! ha ha).
after a fruitless search for a baguette, we walked back to site and ordered a chicken tagine for tea - which
was delivered right to the door at 5.30pm MT! it was absolutely delicious : )
after that we had an earlish night, watched a dvd, internetting - usual stuff.
domestic day no. 2 today - washing given in, all service washes so far in morocco - bed changed,
washing up done....then lunch in the sunshine listening to one of the frenchmen playing the accordian
in his van!
we are waiting for the second load of washing to be returned, then scootering into essaouira.
another english couple have turned up here, said that essaouira is extremely busy with motorhomes, and
very windy too.
we are staying another night here, at least, and then we will move on to another coastal site.

friday: woke to a cloudy/sunny day! not expecting that (ha ha) - but its still warm - and we're hoping the
sun will break through later....
scootered - very windy - into essaouira yesterday aft. - for a potter - lovely chilled out place - and to
see what the campsite nearest to the town was like (not bad, but we like this one better so are staying
put).
the town itself is quite touristy (and sophisticated, some v. posh looking hotels) and there were more
westerners about than we have seen for ages!
the beach was amazing, and there were lots of kite surfers doing their thing!
we walked around the walled medina for a bit and then stopped for a drink in a nice little square filled
with cafe's (and tourists!). had a delicious smoothie and a naughty ice-cream pud. before a slow walk to
the busy working harbour, then back along the beach to the scoot for the windy ride home. a v. nice aft!
after quick tea we decided to stay here another day and potter/chill/route plan, 'cos its so nice, and then
move on tom.
we need to do some shopping as the fridge/cupboards are pretty bare! but we can get by today on cous-
cous and cold chicken!! : )