Agadir, Morocco

This day turned out to be beautiful! We took a 3.5-hour excursion: coach, walking and tram. Our guide was very well prepared and walked us through the city adjacent to the Port.

Rising from the rubble of the 1960 earthquake that killed over 15,000 people, Agadir has been rebuilt to be a beautiful modern city. Moroccans from other parts of the country (and Europeans, especially the French) love to vacation in Agadir due to 11 months of sunshine, nice beaches, warm people, good shopping, European cafes and reasonable prices. The residents are 99% Sunni Muslim. The current King is Mohammed VI – he has reigned for 25 years and is very beloved due to his reforms, especially for women. The Alawi dynasty has reigned since the 17th century.

We visited two beautiful mosques – Lebanon Mosque and Mohamed V Mosque.

We took the cable car up and back to visit Agadir Oufella Kasbah, a citadel overlooking the port and offering great views of Agadir Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the city. If a tram is not for you, you could take a camel or pony ride up to the Kasbah. Built in 1572 and surrounded by walls, only ruins remain of the Kasbah.

After this visit, we walked by a pretty park and into a small local market. Vendors showed off the beautiful, great smelling bread and flowers. We learned that flowers are important to the people, You see flowers for sale all over the city. Moroccans also love their bread, they bake it fresh daily and eat it at all meals. A native tree, the Argan, produces argan oil, which can cure skin problems like eczema. There is argan oil for skin, hair and to cook with.

Our tour guide wore a traditional (non-religious) dress with a hood called Djellaba. The garment is worn by both men and women.

A very eye-opening tour!Read more