By Paul Bryers

• Afternoon and Evening Itinerary: Wee Exploration of Essaouira medina
• Accommodation: Riad Mimouna
• Meals: Cafe Verd and Il Mare

Wee walk in Medina:

Following check-in at my Riad, I embarked on a brief exploration of the medina, situated beside the tall city wall with the Atlantic Ocean pounding behind.

I found this medina more appealing than that of Marrakesh, owing to its less noisy and intense atmosphere. The architecture and quaint shops were particularly noteworthy.

Lunch consisted of crepes at Cafe Verd, located near the beach. Very good.

And another wee walk around:

After a brief siesta, I went for a wee walk along the top of the city wall and ramparts as the sun began to slip down. Fantastic sea views.

Just before sunset, I went to Il Mare, situated beside the city wall and Ocean, which provided a great dining place and view of the sunset over the Ocean.

I was lucky enough to sit beside a woman from Cork, Ireland and her daughter and we had a great chat. A lot better than dining alone.

The food was great – fresh oysters followed by fried calamari.

Accommodation:
Riad Mimouna was accessible via a man-powered cart ride (for my luggage) from my carriage stop, navigating through the old medina alleyways and shops. The ambiance was preferable to that of Marrakech.

The Riad itself was beautiful, boasting serene common areas.

My room was lovely, featuring open windows onto a hallway above the internal courtyard, which in turn had windows open to the sea below. The views of the sea and beach were stunning, complemented by the beautiful fresh sea air and the soothing sound of waves; my favorite bedroom sounds.

The restaurant and bar on the rooftop had the same great views and I enjoyed my welcome mint tea from that location.