Arabian nights and days

Photo by Rebecca Lo/China Daily

The street carnival atmosphere was made all the more lively by the mixture of locals and international tourists heeding the persuasive vendors' call. It was a feast for all the senses, and we happily got lost among the crowds seeking exotic entertainment.

After slurping down some harira, an ochre-colored tomato and lentil soup with little bits of noodles, we tried snails. I liked the accompanying broth better than picking out the slimy creatures. It tasted a little medicinal, and I recognized some of the same herbs from Malaysian bak kut teh. We then joined a table indulging in charcoal grilled sausages and liver. These were served with chili sauce, deftly scooped up with the ubiquitous durum wheat pita bread available at every meal.

Bright and early the next morning, we boarded a Supratours Comfort Plus bus for the seaside town of Essaouira. Mehdi had arranged for a return taxi to the depot plus return bus tickets. In hindsight, I was glad that we planned our trip in advance, as the Comfort Plus' wide and comfortable seats were sold out by the time we arrived at the station.

As we descended from the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to sea level during the three-hour journey, we enjoyed a landscape of rolling hills planted with argan trees. A coffee break mid-route introduced us to the nutritious oil derived from these trees, made into soap, shampoo and delicious oil-based spreads. After marveling at how more than half a dozen sheep perched upon a tree that we passed, we arrived at our destination.

Essaouira is a windsurfers' paradise. As soon as we stepped off the bus, we discovered why: trade winds blow continuously through this laidback town. Its white architecture and grid-like medina makes it a pleasant contrast to Marrakech's maze, and we found its citizens friendlier, too.