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What to do in Chefchaouen, Morocco

March 11, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Morocco

Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl, the Blue City, we probably all heard of this place before, known by its beautiful blue coloured medina. I had the privilege to visit this city in the north of Morocco twice and now I would like to share my tips for a weekend in Chefchaouen!

Discover your inner photographer

First things first: make sure to bring a camera! This city is so crazy beautiful that you will regret it if you do not bring one. Every. Single. Street. Is beautiful in its own way and has a different shade of blue. Everywhere you look you will see picture perfect spots. Add beautiful Arabic writings, doors and colourful fruits and bags full of paint to this and trust me, your camera will be full with Blue Pearl photos. It will be difficult to create ugly pictures in this special place!

Doors of Chefchaouen

While walking around in the blue medina, make sure to pay attention to the beautiful diversity of doors in this city. I know.. I am talking about doors, but come on, look at the pictures.. Do I need to say more?…

Meet the local inhabitants

Now that we are talking about photography anyway, the local (furry) inhabitants of Chefchaouen are also worth meeting and taking pictures of. Morocco as a country has many many cute cats walking around in the streets, but Chefchaouen is like the cats kingdom as there are so many! I loved to meet all these furry friends and they love to pose for beautiful pictures with different shades of blue in the background!

Get a view on the city

As beautiful the city is inside the medina, I can also recommend to walk a bit up the hill and leave the medina. From a distance you can have a beautiful view on the city and the mountains. From here you will see blue, but also white coloured houses built against the beautiful Rif mountains. You can choose to go all the way to the Spanish Mosque and watch the sunset from here. I cannot tell you if it is good, as I did not have the chance to do this!

Visit Place El Haouta

One of the squares that you should not miss while you are in Chefchaouen is Place El Haouta. This cute little square has a blue centrepiece surrounded by little cafes where locals are drinking their daily coffee or Moroccan tea. With the beautiful Rif mountains in the back, this scenic place is worth a stop.

Drink tea at Place Outa El Hamam

Did you know that the northern way of making Moroccan tea is different from how they do it in the south? Where you will most likely get a small pot of tea with the mint inside the pot and a small glass to pour it in in the south of the country, you will get a big glass of tea in the north. Here, the mint will be inside the glass instead of in the pot.

Place Outa El Hamam is the perfect place to try out a glass like this as you will have a nice view on the busiest square of Chefchaouen.

Eat street food

Chefchaouen is home to some nice food stalls, juice stands, pastry stands and some rather hidden street food places. I really loved the fresh orange juice and some cinnamon like cookies. What I also loved was a small window with a man inside preparing some kind of potato dish which was a typical snack from Chefchaouen. Try street food where the locals eat it and I can assure you that you will get a whole new experience, it is definitely worth it!

Eat at Chez Hicham

This riad offers a wide selection of Moroccan kitchen and it all tastes so good! Located in the middle of the centre, this restaurant has something for everyone. Even for a veggie like me there were some interesting options. I chose to go for a typical soup from the north called ‘Bissara’ which is made of a particular kind of beans. It is quite thick and together with saffron, the taste is something I never had before in my life. The second dish I had was a vegetarian pastilla, which I can also highly recommend. Even though pastilla (or bastilla) is not typical from the north, I never had a good opportunity to try one as it normally prepared with chicken, pigeon or seafood.

Drink a smoothie at Café Clock

With a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful view from the rooftop, Café Clock is a must visit when you are in need of a break. Either choose one of their smoothies, drink a cup of tea or enjoy one of their (veggie & vegan) food options!

Stay and eat at La Petite Chefchaouen

My last tip for Chefchaouen is to stay at ‘La Petite Chefchaouen’ and most importantly EAT there. The cook prepared a full Moroccan meal for us with salads, Moroccan spinach, zucchini, soup, tajine and a delicious dessert. I am not exaggerating when I say that this was the best meal I had so far during my stay in Morocco.

The rooms itself are very modern and beautiful but still have that Moroccan touch. It is located in the middle of the medina and thus has an amazing location. Breakfast is served at the rooftop from where you have a beautiful morning view over the city.

Extra tips

I do have some other tips that I unfortunately not yet have experienced myself. So I cannot share my experience but I still think they are worth mentioning.

Visit the kasbah

This kasbah is located at the main square in the city and even though I did not have time to visit it, I think it is worth a stop!

Hike to the Akchour waterfalls

For those feeling active and in the mood for some nature, the hike to Akchour waterfalls is said to be amazing. With multiple waterfalls along the way and a trail that’s not too tough, this hike is definitely recommended!

Watch the sunset from the Spanish Mosque

As I was lucky having beautiful rooftop terraces I never had the urge (and time) to go up to the Spanish Mosque to watch the sunset. But from what I have been told, this should be the best spot to experience a magical sundown!

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

An overnight in Legzira, Morocco

March 11, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Morocco

This beach was already on my Morocco bucket list for a very long time. In the beginning of March 2020 I finally had to chance to go and all my (high) expectations were met! Legzira is a small town famous for its beach and is located south of Agadir, close to the town of Sidi Ifni. In this blog I will tell you everything you need to know for an overnight stay in Legzira.

The arch

The Atlantic coastline of Morocco is very long and impressive, but this is definitely one of my favourite spots of this coastline. What makes Legzira so special is the huge, natural stone arch that is crossing the beach. Until the year of 2016 there was another arch next to it, but unfortunately this one collapsed. Still, it is definitely worth a visit as the colour, consistency of the rocks and the whole setting are very unique.

During the ‘Golden hour’ the arch turns golden orange and with sunset you will be able to get a magical view through the hole. Do make sure to take the tides into account, as with high tide the water blocks the arch and you will not be able to get to the other side again. At the beach, there are some little houses and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice Moroccan meal like a tajine.

Where to stay

During a clear night, you will be able to see the sky getting filled with stars. This is one of the reasons why you should spend the night in Legzira. Other reasons are the beautiful sunset, diner next to the ocean and the fact that (if you do not have a car) public transport is not the best!

My tip for accommodation would be Complexe Kasbah Lagzira. Which is located on top of the cliffs in front of the beach. With a stairs you can get to the bottom of the cliffs and from here you can walk in a few minutes to the arch. The complex consists of many apartments, suitable for multiple persons. With a living room, two bed rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and an extra toilet, these apartments are very spacious but also still very affordable. However, the entire property could use a fresh touch as it looks quite old and a bit forgotten. The peace, quietness and location however do again make up for this and we had a lovely stay here!

Sidi Ifni

I would also like to suggest to have lunch at the nearby town called ‘Sidi Ifni’ and especially at the little restaurant called ‘Nomad’. This colourful restaurant serves a nice amount of Moroccan dishes for a descent price and is located in a cute street. Sidi Ifni is a quiet town too but it is nice to spend some time here. As we visited in low season, I do not have any experience with how busy it can get in high season!

Paragliding Legzira

Another AMAZING activity that you can do in Legzira is Paragliding. Together with Parapente Legzira and a 4WD you will go up the highest mountain in the area for take-off. The paragliding gives you an amazing feeling of flying and the area is crazy beautiful. From the dry mountains, you will fly over the small village of Legzira towards the sea. From here you have a great view on the arch and the entire coastline.

After +- 10 minutes flying, you will safely land again on the beach. This was an once in a lifetime bucket list experience to me and I would recommend it to everyone! The price of this flight is 500 Moroccan Dirhams which is a bit less than 50 euros.

How to get there

Legzira is located around 3 hours driving south of Agadir. Unfortunately, public transport to this beautiful place is not ideal. You can take the CTM bus to the closest city: Tiznit. From here you will need to find a shared taxi (taxis that fit 6 passengers) that will take you to either Mirleft or Sidi Ifni. From here you will need to take another taxi to Plage Legzira. However, once you get there, it will be difficult to find transportation back.

This is why I would recommend getting either a private transfer (expensive) or to rent a car. In this way you can drive in a relaxed pace and stop whenever you want. We rented the car for two full days and left on a Saturday morning. We arrived in the early afternoon and went to Sidi Ifni by car for lunch. On the way back we stopped for lunch and a walk in Tiznit.

Place Outa El Hamam is the perfect place to try out a glass like this as you will have a nice view on the busiest square of Chefchaouen.

Tiznit

Tiznit is a city on the way from Agadir to Legzira and is known for its silver jewellery. It is not big, but it is nice for a stroll through the medina and to have lunch on your way. I love it that every Moroccan city has its own unique medina, so it keeps amazing me every time. Men preparing their herbs in big bags, chickens in cages ready to be sold, butcheries and in Tiznit also a lot of jewellery places of course. I would recommend to include Tiznit in either your way to Legzira or your way back as it is definitely worth a look.

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

10 beautiful places in Sri Lanka

March 4, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Sri Lanka

In 2017 we travelled to Sri Lanka. I was very excited as I always wanted to go to India and I felt this would be a little bit like ‘Little India’. In some way this was right and it reminded me of the image I had of India, but Sri Lanka is an independent country with lots of unique places to offer itself. In this blog I will share my favourite places in Sri Lanka, but of course, the country has many more great places!

1. Kandy

Let me start with probably my favourite place in Sri Lanka: Kandy. This cultural capital is located in the middle of the country and is home to one of the most interesting festivals I have ever been to: Esala Perharera. During the time of the festival, Kandy is transformed into a bustling city with big crowds of people. This is why we did not go to the famous Relic of the tooth of Buddha in the Tooth temple. But, if you are in Kandy in the low season (away from the big festival) then you should stop here as it is part of their cultural beliefs. What I like about Kandy is its relaxed atmosphere, with small coffee bars in the streets and the characteristic street views of normal daily life in Kandy.

If you are planning your trip close to the dates of the Esala Perahera, I would definitely suggest to plan your way through Sri Lanka around this festival. It is very worth it to stop in Kandy during this festival. However, you do need to take into account that to have a spot in the streets to see the festival, you need to ‘buy’ a chair. As more and more tourists want to experience this festival, organisations sell these chairs for crazy high prices so you got to make sure to make a good deal. We were able to last minute buy four chairs at a corner spot which gave us an amazing view on the dancers, musicians and elephants (you can question the use of elephants for a festival like this…)

2. Ella

And mostly the way to Ella is why this place deserves a spot in this list. The train ride to Ella is named as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world and I can understand why. Trains in Sri Lanka are full when they are really FULL. We often saw people hanging out of the trains, or jumping in when the train was already leaving. The train ride to Ella is a popular one, so make sure to be on time or sit like us on the ground near the doors. To be honest, this gave us a real local experience, instead of traveling the more expensive and comfortable first class. During this ride, you will encounter beautiful mountains, nature and people on other trains.

Ella itself is a nice and relaxed backpackers town with a lot of nice restaurant options and also a few day trekking’s. I still regret not going to the 9 arches bridge, but we did do the ‘Little Adams Peak’ trekking. As the real Adams Peak is very wet during our summer months, we decided to skip this hike and do the little one in Ella instead.

3. Trincomalee

Because of the civil war between the military of Sri Lanka and the separatist Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam, the north of the country was a no go area for a long period of time. Now, Trincomalee is one of the places in the north that are less discovered than the other places in the country. Think of beautiful beaches and Hindu temples where there are mostly local people and the hospitality of the local people who are happy there are finally tourists coming again!

A must-see in Trincomalee is the Koneswaram Temple where you can see Hindu architecture and its worshippers. Of course my sister and I (both tall and blonde) were asked for pictures, and we decided to make use of this opportunity to get a picture with the locals ourselves. It turned out to be a beautiful and colourful picture! (See photo at the top of this blog).

Another activity, besides going to the beach, that is popular in Trincomalee is to go dolphin / whale watching. Unfortunately, we were unlucky as we did not see a blue whale (the people after us saw one..) but we still enjoyed all the dolphins playing with the waves! Taking a boat is also a nice way of experiencing the country from a different angle.

4. Sigirya or “the Lions Rock”

One of the famous places of Sri Lanka is the Lions Rock, or its real name: Sigirya. Sad thing is that this is probably the most touristy spot of the country. Think of climbing the rock in a queue.. However, think about the beauty of this rock and the landscape in which it is located then you will understand why it is so famous by the masses. You can climb the rock all the way to the top where there used to be a fortress, now it only functions as a viewpoint.

If you want to have a more quiet experience, you can choose to climb the Pidurangala Rock which will have a view on the Lions Rock. Or if you have plenty of time, you can choose to climb both and then decide which one you liked best. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to do both but it is definitely on my list!

5. Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura once was the capital of Sri Lanka. This is why the Buddhists build a lot of temples, stupas, elephant statues, etc. in this city. Some of which are nicely restored and show the culture of Buddhism. Do not forget to bring socks as you will have to take off your shoes and the ground is crazy hot because of the sun! For history lovers, Anuradhapura is the place to be and learn about Buddhism.

6. Mihintale

I would recommend to combine Anuradhapura with a visit to Mihintale, which is seen as the birthplace of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Here you can climb to the top of a holy rock and see some more Buddha statues and stupas. But be aware of the monkeys! They can get a bit too interested in your food and try to steal it..

7. Galle

This little sea side town is known for its VOC influences. Sri Lanka once was a colony of the Netherlands, which is why you can still find old VOC signs and other old buildings. As it is UNESCO heritage, it gets preserved in its original state. I loved the relaxed and nice atmosphere in this little town, that is surrounded by water! Discover all the monuments and take a walk on the city walls.

8. Tangalle

Looking for a destination where you will have the beach to yourself? Tangalle is your place to be! Tangalle is a very, very small town in the south of the country and is the perfect place to unwind from all the impressions of the cities.

9. Dambulla

This place is famous for its caves. Inside these caves you can see a lot of beautiful Buddha statues and paintings. The whole atmosphere feels very spiritual and special and is perfect to combine with one of the national parks like Minneriya and the Sigirya rock.

10. National Parks

Sri Lanka is also home to many different national parks. It has a great variety of animals like elephants, deers, crocodiles, leopards etc. As there are lots of different parks spread over the country, it can be difficult to choose. We decided to go elephant watching at the lesser known Giritale national park and look for leopards at Yala national park. Unfortunately, no leopards for us, but still a lot of other beautiful animals!

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

What to do in Essaouira, Morocco

February 12, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Morocco

Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador, is a city at the Atlantic coast of Morocco. This town, famous for its harbour and great wind- and kitesurf spots is the perfect relaxed getaway from cities like Marrakech and Agadir. Being used as a filmset for the popular tv series ‘Game of Thrones’ make that the visitor numbers increase quickly.

Often people only go to Essaouira in a day trip from Marrakech, however I would definitely recommend staying a few nights in this beautiful and relaxed sea side town! Besides the fact that it is around 3 hours driving from Marrakech, it has a lot to offer to those who stay longer than a day. In this blog I will share my tips for a perfect stay in Essaouira, Morocco!

Skala du Port

This is the place that every Game of Thrones fan will probably recognize. This iconic fortress functioned in the 18^th century as protection for the entrance of the harbour and the rest of the city. Now you can enter the squared tower, walk on the fortified walls and enjoy the beautiful views on the ocean, the harbour and the medina of Essaouira. Do keep in mind that, even though a lot of blogs say differently, the entrance fee of this Skala is 50 dirhams for foreigners and not 10 anymore!

The harbour

Coming from the medina of Essaouira and passing the Skala du Port, you will enter the harbour. This harbour is characterized by lots of blue fishing boats and fish being sold everywhere you look. If you have a sensitive nose, this place might not be good for you. However, if you are able to cope with the smells, this place is very interesting to walk around. Here you can see locals selling and buying the freshly caught fish and count all the different species that are on sale. If you want to experience some of the local life in Morocco, this is the place to be.

Skala de la Kasbah

Other than the other Skala, this one is free to enter. This part of the fortress has also great views of the Atlantic ocean and contains nice shops for souvenirs. Combine a visit to these walls with a stroll through the medina.

The Medina of Essaouira

The medina of Essaouira is worth mentioning by itself. This medina is more wide and relaxed in comparison to the medina of Marrakech. Wander around this rather small medina and enjoy the white-blue coloured walls and beautiful colourful doors.

Go art shopping

What I like about Essaouira is its relaxed atmosphere. Other than that, it is also a very artistic place with lots of beautiful galleries showing work of all kinds of artists. Everywhere in the medina there are little shops with people working on their latest art and often for a small amount of money, you can already buy a nice and unique piece of art. Last time I visited Essaouira, my parents and I discovered a tiny place in one of the outer parts of the medina, selling cute drawings and paintings of Essaouira and its animals.

Go to the beach

Essaouira is also home to a big and beautiful beach. However, as you might know, Essaouira’s nick name is ‘the Windy City’ so do not expect a nice and relaxed day sunbathing at the beach as you will probably get covered with sand haha. Still the beach of Essaouira is worth a visit because of its great opportunities for wind- and kitesurfing! And for those who never tried it, or want to improve their skills, there are lots of surf schools offering lessons! If you are feeling a bit less active, or if you are visiting in the winter (and you find the water too cold for a swim) there are camels and horses waiting on the beach for people to go for a ride.

Listen to live music at the Moulay Hassan Square

This main square in between the harbour and the medina of Essaouira is always busy. People are having a drink at one of the terraces, walking around or listening to some live music that is performed by local musicians. The music brings a nice atmosphere to the square with a real holiday feeling!

Where to eat?

During my stays in Essaouira I tried out multiple good (but also very bad) spots to eat and drink. My first tip is to not eat at the main square as the food is often not very good. However, we did like the freshly prepared crepes there! For fresh fish you can go to one of the stands near the harbour and choose your own fish that you would like to eat, however I did not try this (of course because I am vegetarian) because I have heard of local people that this is mostly a tourist trap. So be careful if you are trying these spots! Besides these tips I have some very nice places to enjoy good food and drinks!

Le Love by Caravane

This beautiful restaurant contains of two parts: one for tapas and cocktails and one for a la carte. The interior is extremely colourful and you can tell that its designed by an artist. They offer Moroccan dishes with a twist and also European and Asian dishes, which makes the menu very diverse. Definitely a must try when you are in Essaouira! Tip from my meat eating friends / family: try the chicken with pineapple and caramel sauce. I really like the filled mushrooms!

Le Chalet de la Plage

This restaurant is located near the beach and offers a wide range of fresh fish. As a veggie I really loved the filled eggplant!

Ocean Vagabond

This restaurant / bar is located all the way near the end of the beach. The view from here is amazing as this is the spot where all the camels are laying and as the sun sets this will create beautiful silhouettes. With super friendly staff, this place is perfect for a lunch after some surfing or for a drink in the evening to escape the medina for a moment. They offer a variety of lunch and dinner dishes.

Taros café

This café is located at the main square on the rooftop of one of the surrounding buildings. It has beach bar vibes and is the perfect spot for a nice drink. In the evenings there will be live music, so during summer nights this is perfect. If you are visiting in winter, make sure to bring a warm coat as temperatures tend to drop in the night!

How to get to Essaouira, Morocco?

Public transport

There are no trains that reach Essaouira, so the only public transport are busses. I prefer the two companies called Supratours and CTM. These busses operate between Marrakech – Essaouira, Agadir – Essaouira and Safi – Essaouira and are quite comfortable. Since some time ago, Supratours introduced the Comfort busses from Marrakech to Essaouira, which offer more (leg) space, WI-FI and a bottle of water. On the other routes there are only normal busses. The bus from Marrakech will take around 3 hours and from Agadir 3.5 and cost around 70 dirhams. Check the websites of the bus companies for the latest schedules and prices! Another form of ‘public transport’ are the shared taxis, in which you will share the taxi with 6 other people and you share the price to Essaouira. However, as its quite a long drive, it might not be as comfortable to sit with 4 people in the back of the car..

Private Taxi

You can also choose to order a private taxi to take you to Essaouira. Advantages of this option is that you can stop at any place where you want to stop for example pictures. We were able to stop when we saw goats climbing in trees! If you want to know how to see this natural phenomenon in an ethical way, make sure to read my blog about responsible travel in Morocco. Disadvantage for this way of transportation of course are the costs. A normal price for a one way drive to Essaouira from e.g. Agadir will cost you between 900 and 1000 dirhams.

Rental car

The last option is to drive yourself. If you are a confident driver and like to drive on winding ocean roads it could definitely be something for you! Of course you will have all the freedom to stop at places and enjoy the beautiful views. Just keep in mind that the medina of Essaouira is not accessible for cars, so you should find a parking spot before entering the centre of Essaouira.

If you have some questions about Essaouira or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

Malta: places to go using public transport

February 5, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Malta

Malta, known for its crystal clear waters was a real surprise to me. As we chose to stay in one hotel the entire stay, we used the public transport to get around the island. Malta island is the biggest of the three (Gozo and Comino) but a lot of parts are well accessible by public transport like busses. In this blog I will share my favourite places on Malta island that are accessible by using only public transport!

1. Marsaxlokk & St. Peter’s Pool

All the way to the Southeast of the island you can find a small fishers village called Marsaxlokk. This cute place is mostly famous for its colourful boats and the sand coloured buildings in the back. For the fish lovers, this is the place to be to enjoy a fresh fish dish. I just liked to wander around and take in all the colours (and smells) of this town.

When you are done wandering around, you can hop in a little boat and head to a popular swimming spot called ‘St. Peter’s Pool’. A big cove creates a beautiful natural swimming pool and for the dare devils there are multiple spots for ‘cliff’ jumping. Bring a towel and relax on the rocks after your dip in the ocean. There is a small path leading upwards and all the way to the top you can find a small facility where you can buy some drinks / food. Do not expect anything fancy!

2. Valletta

Even though I was a bit disappointed by this capital city, I still think it is a must-see during your time in Malta. Because we stayed in Sliema, we took the ferry from here to the other side of the water. This was already one of the highlights as this will give you the well known view on Valletta, with its skyline.

Valletta itself has some nice terraces where you can enjoy lunch and cute streets (some very steep!) where you can wander around. I really liked the view over the big harbour at the Upper Barrakka Gardens. In my opinion, this place is good for a daytrip to walk around and sense the feeling of the capital of Malta, but there are more nice places on Malta.

3. Mdina

This old city in the middle of the island once was the capital of Malta. Most of its buildings date back to the Medieval times and it is fully surrounded by city walls. Seeing horse carriages riding through the narrow streets take you back in time. As it lays on a hill, there are some nice places to eat and have a great view over the island. Go early so you can spend some time in this city before you head to your stop for watching the sunset: Dingli Cliffs.

4. Dingli Cliffs

At the South coast of Malta there are cliffs called ‘Dingli Cliffs’. These cliffs are 220 meters high and are 12 kilometres long. From here you have a spectacular view over the Mediterranean sea. This is the perfect spot to watch a beautiful sunset where you will see the sun disappear in the sea.

5. Kalkara

Before we went to our hotel in Sliema, we decided to stay the first night in a small village called Kalkara. We were lucky as this night were the celebrations of Saint Joseph and there were festivities and fireworks everywhere. We could not have wished for a better start of our holiday here. Kalkara has a small bay with colourful fishing boats floating in the water. There is not much else to see, but it is nice to spend some time.

Do you have a question or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

What to do on Isole Tremiti, Italy

January 17, 2020

by Bo with 2 Comments Italy

Besides doing research on this beautiful island archipelago, I also went around the islands of San Domino and San Nicola. In this blog I will tell you my favourite spots of these two islands and some general information on this destination

First off I would like to say that these islands are very VERY small, so you will not need too much time to discover them. However, they are definitely worth visiting as they are amazingly beautiful. With forests on San Domino and bright blue waters surrounding the islands, this destination is perfect for relaxation and activities like hiking and swimming.

I went around the island by foot and explored it in a few days, but I think if you have a full day, you can walk the whole island in one day! I just liked to cut it in a few parts and explore something else every day.

San Domino

Cala delle arene

This beach is located near the harbour and really looks like a tropical paradise. The sand is white and the water is blue and the trees are green, sounds like paradise to me right? The plus side of Isole Tremiti is that it is not that popular by the masses (yet) which is why this beach is nice and quiet! Unfortunately, when I was here there was a lot of rain and it was too cold to swim.

Cala Spido

When you are on top of the island of San Domino you will probably see a place with benches and tables where people eat their own snacks. From here, you will have a gorgeous view over Cala Spido. A path will lead you down to the water and will give you great opportunities to swim and snorkel!

Scoglio dell’Elefante

A bit further down the path you will encounter signs saying ‘Scoglio dell’Elefante’. This immediately made me happy as I loveee elephants and I wanted to see this place that is promising an elephant shaped rock. Once you get there, you will immediately see the rock and understand why they named it like this!

Il Faro di San Domino

All the way at the end of the island is the old lighthouse. It is mostly the walk towards the lighthouse that is beautiful with different kinds of scenery. I felt like the landscape changed once you got closer to the light house, or is that weird on a small island like San Domino haha?

Colle dell’Eremita

This spot is quite the walk but worth the view! It is a bit of a search but just try to follow the signs saying ‘Eremita’ and you will get there. From here you can spot three islands in one picture! Quite cool huh?

Cala dei Benedettini

This was one of my favourite places because there was literally no one around me and the place was insanely beautiful. I do not understand how an island like this can be so quiet in May? Anyway.. no real tips here, just climb over some rocks and enjoy the views! And if you are here in summer, enjoy a swim!

Viewpoint Grotta dei Pagliai

From this point near Grotta dei Pagliai you will have a beautiful view over the sea and the other islands. Take a moment to take in the beauty of this spot:

Where to eat and drink?

Of course, during your holiday in Italy you have to eat! As any other place in Italy, this island is perfect for a great pizza or another Italian dish! In May some restaurants were closed, but if you are here in summer, they will probably be open! Still I got a nice place to eat delicious pizza and a place to drink your cocktails!

La Fenice

Like I already said: PIZZA! For non-veggies there are some other good options (of what I heard of other people) but I just liked the pizzas here. At one point I found myself eating pizza for 5 days in a row… whoops.. (think the restaurant was very happy I did my research on this island haha)

Cocktail bar

I do not know the name of this place anymore (I am not sure if it even has a name), but here you can find the cocktails on the island! The bar is close to the restaurant called l’Altro Faro, you will find it! It is owned by a local couple with hearts for Isole Tremiti. Besides the good cocktails, I liked their solution to banning single use plastics: using pasta as straws!

Where to stay?

Hotel Tramontana

There are not that many hotels on the island (you can only sleep on San Domino), but I stayed at hotel Tramontana. Owned by a family from Tremiti, this hotel offers everything you need: comfortable rooms with nice bathrooms and a good location on the island. Here I met a local who helped me translating all my interviews and showing me around!

San Nicola

This island is smaller than San Domino, but is home to a nice fortress. I would suggest to take the boat from San Domino to San Nicola and just wander around for a few hours. There is not really much to do, besides some spots to eat. Still, the views were amazing and I really enjoyed this island! It is very pretty and also very quiet, so you will have everything to yourself.

How to get there?

This archipelago is rather unknown and not accessible from a lot of places. You can either reach the islands by ferry or by helicopter (which is in low season surprisingly affordable, unfortunately I could not do it..). The ferry leaves from multiple towns, but I decided to go from Termoli.

Termoli is a small harbour town from where ferries daily depart. The trips takes around 45 minutes with nice views of the coastline! In summer there are more ferries than in the low season and one of the companies operating between the islands and Termoli is called ‘Tirrenia’. For daily schedules and prices go to: https://www.tirrenia.it/

Harbour of Termoli

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

10 things to do in Barcelona

January 10, 2020

by Bo with No Comment Spain

Having a sister who loves to travel as much as I do has its benefits and downsides. Her love for Barcelona resulted in her moving to Spain. This means that I have to miss her most days of the year as we live far apart. However, now we appreciate the moments that we can be together even more AND I now have a nice address to stay when I want to go to Barcelona! As this blog is about What to do in Barcelona, I want to share you my favourite places and things to do in this city (lots of credits to my sister haha). Even though Barcelona is already a very known and touristic city, I hope I can share some new and fun information with you!

See the Sagrada Família from the inside

Yes, I know.. the Sagrada Família is probably the most famous site in Barcelona. Still I wanted to include it in here, just because it deserves its spot! I have been to Barcelona multiple times, but I never went inside the church. During my last visit I had some time to spare and I decided to finally go inside this impressive piece of architecture.

To skip the lines at the ticket office, you can buy a ticket online in advance and with some reduction! With this ticket you will have a particular timeslot, which reduces the amount of time that you need to wait to get in.

As beautiful the Sagrada is from the outside, as breath taking it is from the inside. Instead of using Biblical images for the windows, bright colours and patterns are used and in combination with the sun shining through the windows, this really creates a magical feeling. Besides the fact that this basilica is massive, the amount of details put into this piece of art is out of this world. Even though I can write about the Sagrada Família for pages, I think its best to leave it to the pictures!

Climb up the rooftop of the Barcelona Cathedral

From the outside this cathedral is pretty, but not something I haven’t seen before.. But wait until you reach the top! Inside the cathedral you can buy a ticket to take an elevator up to the roof. Here you have an amazing view of the cathedral itself, but mostly of the city..

Walk underneath the Arc de Triomf

No, I am not talking about the one in Paris! Barcelona has an Arc itself with a very nice orangey colour. Just admire this building as a piece of art and of course do not forget to take a picture!

¡Vamos a la playa!

What better place to go for a stroll or a dip in the ocean than La Barceloneta? The last time I visited Barcelona was in February and even though it was too cold to swim, it was so nice to stroll along this beach. Is it just me or do you also prefer a coastal city?

Get an overview of the city at Bunkers el Carmel viewpoint

For those who wish to see the city from another viewpoint, Bunkers el Carmel is the place to be. Unfortunately this place is getting more known by the larger public, which means it can get busy. However, I think it is still worth it to go as the view is priceless.

Hike to the Tibidabo theme park

For those who are looking for something different and outside the city, a hike to Tibidabo is an option. Tibidabo is a theme park on top of a hill with an amazing view of Barcelona.

The park is accessible for free but once you want to go in an attraction you will have to pay a ticket. Next to the park there is a big temple called ‘Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’. This majestic building has a statue of Jesus on top that overlooks the city. Take a windy climb up to the statue and enjoy the panoramas.

Eat at Brunch and Cake

Whether you go for breakfast, brunch, lunch or just something sweet, Brunch and Cake is your place to be. To be exact, its your ‘places’ to be as there are multiple restaurants of this concept spread over Barcelona. My favourites are the avocado toasts and yoghurt and granola breakfasts, jummm..

Eat nachos at Carabela Café

Nice bar, nice atmosphere, nachos, guacamole, salsa and cheese….. Do I need to say more? Just check this place out when you are in Barcelona!

Eat pinchos at Carrer de Blai

When in Barcelona, eating pinchos should definitely on your list! This street is filled with little bars where the selection of pinchos is wide. Here you can choose a few and order a drink and enjoy the Spanish cuisine.

Sing karaoke at The George Payne

When you are in the mood to go out and enjoy some nice drinks whilst singing some karaoke, The George Payne is the bar for you. Here a mix of tourists and local people get together and the real daredevils can take the microphone and sing a song on top of the stairs in front of a big audience. At The George Payne you are sure of a good night out!

For the art lovers there are of course a lot more options in this city where Gaudi left his traces. Places like Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and Park Güell are worth visiting when in Barcelona for the first time. I normally skip these places as they are very touristic and I think Barcelona has also a lot of different places to offer!

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

Highlights of Jordan

December 20, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Jordan

Jordan is gaining popularity in the tourism sector. I think Jordan is an amazing country with kind people, good food and amazing sites. This blog will contain all my best tips for an unforgettable journey in this Middle Eastern country.

Petra

This ancient city is an UNESCO heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the world. Petra is a must visit during your trip to Jordan and was one of my personal highlights. Petra is not just that one image that probably everyone knows. Even though it is one of the highlights of Petra, the Treasury is not all there is to see. Starting with the entrance of the park, you will walk towards the Siq. Here you can already see the red rocks and some creations that were made from the rocks. Once you arrive at the Siq, the real adventure starts. The Siq is a small canyon which works as a pathway to the first real site to see in Petra: the Treasury.

The Siq itself is already worth visiting Petra. For those who are not able to walk much, there are horse carriages that can take you to the Treasury. However, if you do not need this, I would definitely recommend to walk. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy the Siq at a slower pace. The end of the Siq is probably what everyone is waiting for: The Treasury. Here I would like to suggest to step away from your camera for a moment and take in the beauty of this building. After the walk through the Siq, there are more hiking trails of different levels. I would definitely recommend to do the Treasury from above and the trail to the Monastery.

The easiest way to visit Petra is to stay in the village nearby called ‘Wadi Musa’. Here are multiple hotels and restaurants. From the hotel, a shuttle to the entrance is offered, which is most of the times for free. The entrance to Petra is quite expensive (around 60 euros for 1 day) but I would definitely recommend to go at least 2 days. Besides buying your ticket at the ticket office at the entrance of the park, there is the option to buy a Jordan Pass before your trip starts. This pass includes multiple sites throughout the country and you can choose how many days Petra you want to include. In this way you will save some money, you are sure of your tickets and the visa costs for entering Jordan are included. I will share more tips about Petra in my Petra Guide later on my website!

Wadi Rum desert

Of course, the Wadi Rum desert cannot miss in this list. Wadi Rum is located in the south of Jordan and is used in multiple movies (e.g. the Martian) because of its interesting landscape. We arrived at the entrance of the desert and here we had to wait for the owner of the camp to pick us up. He brought us first to Rum village where we had a tea in his house and discussed our wishes for the day and night.

We decided to do a 4×4 tour through the desert which dropped us off at the camp at the end of the trip. This was an amazing experience with a very nice driver who gave us the opportunity to stop often and give us time to walk around and enjoy the desert. We drove around the desert for a few hours, visiting some of the famous spots and even got to drive the car ourselves. It was a crazy but amazing experience to drive a 4×4 truck in the middle of nowhere with no path and just sand in front of you!

After the 4×4 trip we arrived at the camp where we would sleep. This camp is called ‘Beyond Wadi Rum Camp’ and is run by a five local brothers. There are a couple of tents with comfortable beds, a place to shower and to go to the bathroom and there is a small place to where you can eat your dinner. From the camp you see and hear nothing but the desert which creates an amazing and peaceful atmosphere. In the evening they prepare a traditional desert barbecue with the most amazing food. Even though I am a vegetarian I had one of the best meals of the trip here in the desert.

After dinner the staff goes home and you stay in the desert, you can drink a cup of tea whilst looking at the stars. We were there alone with only one other couple and the whole experience was just magical. After a beautiful night looking at the stars, we quickly got a few hours of sleep before waking up the next day in the desert.

After breakfast we left the camp, this time not by 4×4 but by camel! This camel ride made the desert experience complete. Even though it was not the longest ride it was okay as camels are not very comfortable.. Still, it was an once in a lifetime experience to ride a camel in the Wadi Rum desert.

My tip for a good accommodation in the Wadi Rum desert is to look at the location of the camps. Our camp was located somewhere in the middle of the desert which creates a much more authentic experience than the camps located near the road. Here you will still hear the road in the night, which might ruin your peaceful desert experience.

Dead Sea

When visiting Jordan, this place cannot not be on your list. Experiencing the lowest point on earth whilst floating and covered in mud.. do I need to say more? Unfortunately this place is drying up because of climate change and the sea already decreased a lot in size. From here, you are so close to the Israelian border that you can see it on the opposite side of the sea, which gives an extra special touch.

I do have to warn you though! As magical as this place sounds, it is wise to take some things into account before you dive in the Dead Sea. Point one: ‘diving’ not a smart thing to do as your eyes will hurt like hell because of the high amount of salt. Point 2: try to NOT visit the Dead Sea right after you sat on a camel or visited Wadi Mujib..

We arrived at the Dead Sea right after visiting Wadi Mujib (which I will tell more about below) with our legs and butts scratched and bruised from all the rocks in this big canyon. Without thinking twice about it, I covered myself in mud and went into the sea. What I did not expect was the high amount of salt being in the sea stinging my wounds so bad that I run out while crying and trying to shower all the mud and salt from my skin. What also did not help, was the temperature of the outside shower that was heated by the outside temperature of 44 degrees Celsius that day.. The benefit of this painful experience was that my wounds were completely gone the next day! The next day I was able to fully enjoy the Dead Sea and experience this natural wonder.

The easiest way to get to the Dead Sea is to stay at one of the resorts located at the shore. These resorts often have a few swimming pools, restaurants, spa’s and direct access to the sea and its healthy mud.

Wadi Mujib

This place is maybe a bit lesser known by the wider public, but definitely worth a stop. Wadi Mujib is a big canyon offering a few different trails for the more adventurous travellers. What makes this canyon special is the cool water rushing through, creating a real canyoning experience. When we were there, there was only one trail opened because of safety reasons. This trail was the ‘easiest’ one and is allowed without a guide. The river starts quite calm and you can manage to stay dry for some time. At one point, the river gets smaller, deeper and rougher and you need to swim, climb and slide through the canyon. Sometimes strong currents are difficult to conquer and this makes some people to give up before the finish line: the waterfall at the end of the trail. Luckily, we all managed to make it to the end and we were able to see the full beauty of Wadi Mujib.

On the way back, you take the same route but this time you would let the river guide you downstream. While laying in the water, you will probably bump into a few unexpected rocks (which caused the scratches) but it is worth the experience of complete freedom!

Because the entrance of Wadi Mujib is next to a road, we were afraid to leave our valuables in the car. Being the well prepared person I am, I brought a drybag. So we decided to bring our passports, money and one phone with us to the canyon. We thought that this was a smart decision as we had the drybag right?! Unfortunately our drybag was not ‘rock-proof’ and on the way back it got a scratch which caused water getting in our bag. When we got out of the water, we saw that the phone, the money and the passports got ruined.. So be careful with trusting drybags! I still get questions at border controls if I went swimming with my passport haha..

Even though, we lost almost all our pictures of that day, our belongings got ruined and our bodies got scratched, Wadi Mujib was definitely worth the visit!

Amman

This is the place where our journey through Jordan started and we could not ask for a better start. Amman is the capital of Jordan and is home to some very nice hotspots. Our hotel was located across the Roman Theatre and within walking distance of the Amman Citadel. This citadel consists of a few ruins on top of a hill, but what is more impressive is the view from here. You can see the whole city and during a call for prayer this place turns magical for a few seconds.

Besides these ruins, Amman has also some great food to offer. Jordan cuisine is all about small dishes called ‘Mezze’, which include pita, hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, haloumi cheese etc. There is one particular place in Amman which is famous for its falafel: Hashem Restaurant. Without ordering anything, they will come to your table and fill it with all kinds of mezze. We had the best falafel ever and we only had to pay around 6 euros for the whole table.

There are lots of options for accommodation in Amman, however we very much liked our stay at the Amman Pascha hotel. This is because of the local people that we met here. Every evening they would sit on the rooftop, make music and sing songs. We were invited to sit with them and they shared stories about Jordan with us. The second night we even got invited to go to the rooftop bar of the W hotel, which is the place where the elite of Jordan comes to party. This was an once in a lifetime experience and Amman became one of the highlights of our trip because of the people we met there. The hotel is also home to some very cute animals like rabbits, guineapigs, owls and chipmunks!

Amman is also perfect for daytrips to, for instance, Jerash. Here, we met someone from Syria who invited us for a lunch at his home. Here you can read more about this memorable experience!

Madaba

Madaba is a city located near Amman and the airport and is famous for its floor mosaics. We stayed at a very nice hotel in the centre called: Saint John hotel. With a very nice view on the mosque from the restaurant and bar, where you can order a nice lemon mint (must try when you are in Jordan!!).

In this small city you can find the Saint George church with a mosaic on the floor showing the oldest map of Palestine. Besides this historical aspect is Madaba a very nice destination because of its friendly and welcoming inhabitants. I liked our time in Madaba, because of the relaxed atmosphere and the kind people. Everyone was friendly and we were able to explore the city on foot.

During our time in Madaba, we had one of our best meals of our trip through Jordan at: Haret Jdoudna. I can definitely recommend ordering the Fatteh Makdous here, which is an eggplant dish with yoghurt, pine nuts and crispy bread and it is simply yummie!!

Some general information..

Jordan pass

During our Jordan trip, we used the Jordan pass. You can buy this pass online and enjoy some nice free entries to sites in Jordan. With this pass you can also include the entrance to Petra and choose how many days you would like to visit this wonder of the world. Another benefit of the Jordan pass is that it includes your Visa on arrival! So when you entre the country, you can just show your pass and you will get your visa! Find more information on: https://www.jordanpass.jo/ (non spon)

Public transport

I love to travel a country by myself and make use of public transport. Using public transport is environmental friendlier than going by private taxi or by car and gives you the opportunity to get closer to the local community. We had some nice but also challenging experiences with the public transport in Jordan. There are no trains in Jordan, so you will have to take the bus. These busses are not reliable and often leave when its full, so if you are on a tight schedule, this might not be the best option. This is why I was very happy that we had many days in Jordan, so we could travel at a slow pace. Often busses to other cities only leave once per day and are packed with people.

As two Western people in a bus full of locals, we got a lot of eyes looking at us, but also a lot of friendly faces. On one bus ride from Kerak to Wadi Musa, my boyfriend got asked if he could arrange a Dutch visa for the person sitting next to him haha.

We travelled from Amman all the way south to Wadi Musa by bus, which was perfectly fine. A few days later we were supposed to take the 6 am bus to Wadi Rum, but as we were lucky to meet a Dutch couple with a car, we could travel with them to the desert and later to Aqaba, Wadi Mujib and Madaba!

How to dress in Jordan

We travelled to Jordan in July, which means that the temperature was around 35 degrees celcius, with a peak of 44 degrees celcius at the Dead Sea. Even though it is hot during the day, there is almost everywhere a nice breeze and in the evening it also cools down to a nice temperature.

However, as a big part of Jordan is Muslim, it is wise to always cover your shoulders and knees as a woman and also cover your shoulders as a man. Not only as a way of showing respect to the local culture, but also to avoid getting unwanted attention.

I would suggest bringing loose fitting clothes that are made of thin fabric to keep you cool. We also liked to wear a scarf on our heads that we bought in Jerash, which not only looks awesome on pictures, but also protects your head from burning.

If you like to go to one of the fancy rooftop bars in Amman like the one at the W hotel, make sure to pack some fancy clothing as casual outfits will not be allowed inside. We got almost denied because my boyfriend was wearing shorts.

If you have some questions about our Jordan adventure or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

A Perfect Day in Bologna, Italy

December 13, 2019

by Bo with No Comment Italy

Bologna might not be the most famous city in Italy, but it is definitely worth a stop during your trip through Italy or as a nice city trip! In this blog, I will share my tips on how to spend a perfect full day in this amazing city. I was lucky to call Italy my home for 6 months, and I think Bologna turned into one of my favourite cities of the world!

Due Torre

I always love to start my city trip with seeing the city from above. This way you get a nice overview of a big part of the city and from here you can get clearer view on where you are in the city. This is why I would suggest to start your day (when it is also not so hot) by climbing one of the two towers. These towers mark the centre of Bologna and provide a beautiful view of the city. From here you can see why people call Bologna ‘La Rossa’ which is Italian for red.

The climb is rather scary (in my opinion) as you have to climb the tower by a never ending amount of wooden steps. It is quite exhausting if your condition is like mine haha, but then you will only appreciate the view more afterwards! You need to buy the tickets in advance as there is no ticket office at the tower itself and you need to buy a certain timeslot. The easiest way is to buy your ticket at Piazza Maggiore (the main square in the city) at the Bologna Welcome shop. Full price 5 euros, reduced price (e.g. kids, elderly and students) 3 euros.

Lunch at Osteria dell’Orsa

From the Due Torre go north to find the place to have lunch: Osteria dell’Orsa. Osterias are known as typical Italian restaurants with a homely atmosphere. As Bologna is the home of Tagliatelle al Ragu this is the best place to try some of the amazing Italian kitchen. As I am vegetarian I could not try the Ragu but I had tortellini filled with vegetables, which was also delicious. I recommend this place as there are lots of local people coming here, I was the only tourist at that time and it really felt like a local experience.

Finestrella

After lunch, you can walk a bit further and see the Finestrella. If you are in high season you do not have to look a lot to find it as you will probably see some tourists around it. But if you are in low season it can be a bit difficult to find. This is because it is only a small window which shows you a bit of the old canals of Bologna. Unfortunately, both times I went to see it, half of the houses at the canal were in construction. But it still was a cute experience.

Walk to Santuario di San Luca

If you are feeling active, you can decide to do the walk to the Sanctuary of San Luca. This basilic is located outside the centre of Bologna on top of a hill. The walk takes around 3 hours and a large part of the route will include the arches of Bologna. The walk is long, but it is a beautiful route with a lot of nice views (including the stadium of Bologna).

Once you have reached the top, you will be able to go to a small rooftop, from where you will have a nice view over the forest. You will also be able to see the Due Torre from a far distance. The nice thing about this rooftop is that you can only reach it by climbing a stairs inside the basilic. At this point, you will be in between the roof and the basilica’s inside, which creates a weird but special feeling). If you are too tired to walk back, you can also wait for the little train that will bring you back to the city centre.

Aperitivo

After this long and exhausting walk it is time for an Italian tradition that I really like: aperitivo. As Bologna is the main food capital, this is your place to be for a good aperitivo! The places I like are located next to Piazza Maggiore: Via Pescherie Vecchie and Via Clavature. Here you will find multiple spots where you can order nice plates full of Italian cheese or meat with a good glass of wine. But make sure that you do not eat too much as the last stop of this day will be a place to eat good old pizza!

Eat pizza at Zapap Pratello

A trip to Italy is of course not complete without eating a pizza! This little place has a terrace outside where you can sit and enjoy their delicious pizzas. I recommend having a pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella! They put the mozzarella on the pizza after it has been in the oven, so it melts a bit but the good flavour stays. I liked this place not only because of its good pizza, but also because of the feeling to be in a spot where also Italians eat. And of course, because I made a little friend here!

Besides these tips, Bologna has countless beautiful buildings, squares, churches, streets and shops to discover. To me, Bologna always felt like coming home. The whole atmosphere of the city is different than in the big tourist cities like Rome and Venice. It is cosy and the ambiance is amazing. I would suggest to eat as much Italian food and drink as much Italian wine as possible to get the real taste of Bologna!

Do you have any questions or another remark? Leave a comment or contact me!

7 things to do in Agadir, Morocco

November 22, 2019

by Bo with 2 Comments Morocco

Agadir, located in the South of Morocco is a popular beach destination for both international and domestic tourists. In this blog I will list some of my favourite things to do or see in this busy coastal destination.

Agadir Beach & Boulevard

The beach of Agadir is long and is surrounded by a big boulevard with little shops and restaurants. At the beach there are multiple spots to rent a sunbed and umbrella, but if you prefer to just lay on your towel then there is also enough space. At the beach there are multiple activities offered like surfing, bodyboarding and jet skiing. However, Agadir is not the best spot to go surfing as the waves are often not high enough and too close to the shore.

Of course, during the winter period the sea is not perfect for swimming anymore. Still, this area is perfect for a beach stroll and getting some fresh air. So also if you are not a swimmer or a beach activity person, you can still enjoy the nice sea breeze and a fresh mint tea afterwards.

Agadir Marina

This small pleasure port is located between the big port and the beach. Here you can find restaurants, shops and people trying to show off their newest outfit or car. From here, you can also go on a boat tour. Eat here in the evening to enjoy all the young people trying to find a spot to park their cars and get ready for a night out. For one moment, you feel like your in a French or Spanish port instead of a Moroccan one.

Memoire d’Agadir & Jardin d’Olhao

After the earthquake in 1960, there was not much left of Agadir. In this little memorial site you can see pictures of the city before and after the earthquake and read news articles from during the catastrophe. After this history lesson you can wander around in a nice park and clear your head. This is also a place where younger people and families like to come in their weekends to relax.

Agadir Oufella

After visiting the memorial and seeing the pictures, it is nice to see the remains of the Kasbah in real life. To be honest, there is not much left of it. There is just a wall and a few rocks, however, it is still worth a visit because of the great view over Agadir. Especially during sunset this place has a magical view.

After the earthquake they placed big rocks on the mountain in the shape of 3 Arabic words and every night these words light up and give a magical touch to the beach side of Agadir.

Shop at Souk El Had

Some say the Souk of Agadir is the biggest souk of Africa. Even though this statement is not true, it is still very big and worth a visit during your time in Agadir. This big souk has a roof and contains 12 gates (bab). I would recommend to start at Bab 6, as this is a nice big gate from where you will get a nice entrance to the souk. Here you will find everything variating from fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables to tea pots, clothing and furniture. Masses of colourful fruits are stacked on top of each other and bananas are hanging from the roof. This is the place to shop your Moroccan souvenirs as the prices are better here than in the tourist shops.

My tip as a solo female traveller here is to, if you can, go with a local person. This will give you the freedom to just walk and look around without shop owners trying to sell you something. If you are not in the position to go with a local, I still recommend you to go as this, to me, felt more like real Morocco than the rest of the city.

See the Mosques

During your time in Agadir you will probably hear when it is time for prayer because of these mosques. Even though non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, the outsides of these mosques are worth to see. The architecture and the details of all mosques in Morocco amaze me and I think these mosques are just gorgeous. There are two mosques relatively close to each other: Lebanon mosque and Mohamed V mosque.

La Medina d’Agadir chez Coco Polizzi

After the earthquake in 1960 an Italian-Moroccan artist named Coco Polizzi designed a new medina in Agadir as a reconstruction of the old medina. Using traditional Berber techniques, this medina feels like an open-air museum. Even though it is not the ‘real’ medina anymore, I do think that it is worth the visit! It is a nice and quiet space and with the entrance ticket you will get a free drink at the terrace. Ticket costs 40 dirhams.