A lot of good weather for a pleasant stopover
In this region of Morocco, temperatures are pleasant all year round, as Agadir enjoys a very large number of sunny days. The marina is located at the northern end of its beautiful bay. It can accommodate boats up to 30 meters long. At the time of our visit, it was quite new and still almost empty.
The city, with its essentially modern architecture, was rebuilt after the disastrous earthquake of 1960. The ruins of the Kasbah fortress, erected in 1940, remain the only evidence of Agadir's heritage.
1st fishing port of Morocco
Agadir is the leading fishing port in Morocco. A new dynamic aims to modernize the fleet and port facilities.
During the so-called "biological stop" period, the boats stop their activity for two months to allow for reproduction. Result: three hundred barcasses of thirty meters and more are inactive, moored in pairs ten by ten.
They offer the strange and unusual spectacle of a forest of masts and antennas. A little further on, an open-air shipyard is building about fifteen wooden ships of about twenty meters to renew the artisanal fishing fleet.
The seafood processing industry is important for the local economy. It is supported by financial contributions that favor industrial development. The avenue of the port is surrounded by canning factories and some restaurants near the fish market. In the distance, one can see an inscription on the mountain, carved into the vegetation. It is the motto of Morocco, which means in French "Dieu, la patrie, le roi". The Souss Massa region, where Agadir is located, is also prosperous for agriculture. Investments favor other industrial sectors such as plastics and automotive...
A visit to the souk is a must
A visit to the souk is a must for unforgettable moments. The most active period is in the morning. The souk el Had, in the heart of the city, has more than 3000 shops on an area of 11 hectares. It is a colorful universe, where the scent of spices bewitches the senses.
There are many craft shops: jewelry, babouches, carpets ... contributing to the wealth of the region.
In order to put us immediately in the atmosphere of the market, we haggle over the rate of the cab. Indeed in the souk, no price is displayed, everything is negotiated! And we will come back with our arms full of fresh products.
Visit to the valley of birds
It is on the back of dromedaries, Momo and Zacharian, that we head towards this famous valley of birds.
Here live storks and also lesser known species such as rheas or "demoiselles numides". In the middle of a flourishing vegetation, one can have the chance to see a magot monkey or a mouflon with cuff.
Discovering the beautiful city of Taroudant
In this region, the harvest of saffron represents an important work. The bourrier that we rented that morning fulfilled its mission well. The seventy-two kilometers of brave Moroccan road were swallowed as who laughs yellow and here we are arrived without encumbers at our objective.
Nicknamed "the little Marrakech", this city has the particularity of being surrounded by admirably preserved fortifications.
Tajine at the restaurant at noon, haggling over a djellaba in the souk, mint tea at the local bistro, we are immersed in the life of the "real people" here.
At the bazaar, we know the amazing surprise of finding the bell of the Titanicâeuros! The authenticâeuros! At least that's what the old bearded man who runs the store tells us. Faced with our mocking skepticism, he serves us a stupid explanation without batting an eyelid. A passenger of the fatal cruise would have collected her just before the ship sank, and would have given her to his children. And these are the ones who sold her to him... and here are âeuros! Amazing, isn't it? However, the inscription "TITANIC 1912" seems to be painted from last week...
There would be a production workshop of "Titanicâeuros" in the back-souk that it would not surprise me more than that.
Argan oil, a local specialty
80% of the production of argan oil, an ointment with many properties, is from the region. The product is derived from the fruit of the argan tree and its designation is subject to a label. Within the local cooperatives, it is mainly women who make it. A massage with Argan oil lasts two hours, and it is a real treat! Muffled atmosphere, soft music, relaxing herbal tea, footbaths with flowers and all this kind of delicious things. Before heading west, this is a must!
