Essaouria, Morocco

2015-03-14T16:44:33.251Z

...just returned from Morocco

We spent three wonderful days in Essaouria

The Medina Walls

Rough seas crashed against and went over the medina walls!

The small Fleet

The weather was hot and very windy.
We stayed at the  Riad le Grand Large in the Medina, excellent, definitely ticks all the boxes. 

Third floor of the Riad

From the third floor looking up to the terrace

Waiting for the weather

Although most of the fishing boats were unable to go out some fish was still landed

Gulls after scraps

Fresh fish on the quay

So we were able to have fresh sardines for lunch at our favorite restaurant Safran in the Old Grain Market

Lunch at Safrans

 For Irish readers...you can fly Ryanair Dublin to Marrakesh twice a week. The Supratours coaches opperate from Marrakesh to Essaouria six times daily http://www.marrakechtickets.co.uk/supratours-bus-tickets/ Booking.com has many places to stay including the Riad le Grand Large

Wearable Art 2015

New....Earrings to compliment my wearable art necklaces.

Jardin Majorelle

Inspiration for this design was taken from the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, Morocco.

The gardens were created by the french artist Jacques Majorelle in 1924.

 

 The earrings measure 3.5 cms. from the hooks. They are made from alumnium wire, cotton slubbed yarn, hemp thread and glass beads, the hooks are silver plated and nickle free, ......another unique design from Mouflon.

...more designs in my Etsy Shop Mouflon

A Taste of Morocco.......Tagines

Tagines..so simple…so delicious!

The name Tagine...historically Berber... comes from the vessel it is cooked in; usually made from clay. The lower half is a round dish with low sides, the lid is a domed cone which traps the condensation from the cooking and returns the liquid to the contents, thus proving moisture during the cooking which can be an hour or more (sometimes all day).
The lid is removed for serving. It is a communial dish usually served with bread.

Selling Tagines in Marrakech City

The traditional method of cooking with a tagine is to place it over bricks of charcoal. These are purchased specifically for their ability to stay hot for hours.

In some areas the farmers make their own charcoal.

A meal by the road side!

Tagines for sale in a pottery

Their Kiln

...and the rejects?

It seems everywhere you go in Morocco you will come across Tagines cooking!

A Tagine lunch by/in the River

Couscous is also served in a Tagine

If all this has made you hungry...here are some recipes.....

Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons and Olives

http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/moroccanchickenrecipes/r/tag_chick_lemon.htm

Moroccan Couscous with Seven Vegetables

http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/couscous_veg.htm

Mrouzia Recipe - Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Raisins, Almonds and Honey

http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/Mrouzia.htm

Marvelous Morocco

Patterns and textures

At the beginning of March I visited Morocco again. We spent a week on the most amazing tour with Morocco Discovery Tours which took us from Marrakesh to Merzouga and back again via a different route.

Merzouga, Erg Chebbi Desert

and camels waiting for the guests to spend a night in the desert

Our second night was spend in this C16th kasbah at Tamnougalt

A Berber Tent

Some of the amazing textures and decorations still to be seen in the crumbling ancient kasbahs

 

 

 

 

 

 Watch for more of my pictures from Marvellous Morocco!