(photo - sunset from Dar Suki)

Essaouira News

Hello and welcome. I have just returned to Essaouira after a three month holiday in New Jersey. As I return, so does the blog, so join me weekly to learn about the latest and greatest from our fair city.

First of all, the Paris to Essaouira flight on RAM is truly fantastic. Not only do you save the 2 hours from Marrakech, you get a wonderful view of the city and surrounding area. I have never had such a spectacular view of the Isle De Mogador. Well worth the extra 40 euros.

So what's been going on since I was here in June? Well, here's a quick rundown.

The first and most impressive sight is the new wind farm being built in Sidi Kaouki. From Essaouira beach you can see at least 30 wind turbines under construction on the hillside near Cap Sim. We know how much it blows here, so this is sure to be a profitable enterprise. I read in "Le Guido" that Morocco is currently investing to modernize its power grid and wind energy is a big part of the plan. The Sidi Kaouki wind farm should be running by the end of 2007 and has the potential to produce 210GW annually.

How about all the construction! Most of the current construction projects seem to be on track.

The Royal Air Maroc Luxury Hotel is looking amazing. Not that they have started to build, but the amount of land they have for the hotel is huge. I'd say they have 4 times the amount of land as the Sofitel. When complete, this will be the biggest and most luxurious hotel in the city.

Diabet Golf and Hotel is moving along. Tons of sand has been shifted and a golf course seems to be taking shape. It is an extensive project, including 4 hotels and 2 golf courses. I read in the RAM Magazine that the first hotel-golf course is scheduled to open in 2008. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2012. I would guess they are on track, but one never knows.

The new sports stadium has made some progress, but still seems quite far off. Interestingly, the site of the old soccer field down the street from Cafe Mogador in now another giant construction project. They almost have as much land as the Royal Air Maroc Hotel. Condos or Hotel? We will see.

Along the beach, the Ocean Fanatic has closed and is being turned into a luxury cafe by its owner. There is rumor that eventually the Ocean Vagabond will have to move further down the beach to where the camels are rented. I guess the high-ups of Essaouira envision a cafe row rivaling that of Agadir.

The new sewer pipes being installed along the main autoroute have turned the new city into a big dust bowl. The new quarter near Safi beach seems complete, but not many people live there yet.

In Other News:

The biggest news in the Medina is the closing of Mustapha's cafe in the Place Moulay Hassan. It was always the most lively cafe in the place with music blaring to it's young crowd. I heard that Mustapha had died during the summer (RIP), but when I arrived the Cafe was running as usual with the same staff, ECT. Last Saturday Morning I rode my bike by and a crowd was gathered. It was a strange situation. As the staff tried to put out the chairs and tables to open, a lady, unknown to me, kept screaming and was picking up the chairs and tables and putting them back inside. When I rode by an hour later the same scene was going on, but with a bigger crowd. On Sunday morning no one tried to open. The cafe remains closed. Very strange indeed.

I am still trying to buy an Apartment and I am quite close. Maybe. En Shalla. This is a long and amusing story that will be posted on the blog in the weeks to come. Yes, three years in the making.

The surf will be spectacular for the next week so if you are coming to town be sure to bring your board. This week the best spot will be in the bay between the Ocean Vagabond and the Old Fanatic. The weather is currently like summer so it is a great time to visit.

I went out last Saturday night and Essaouira nightlife remains relatively unchanged. Taros still rules the scene with Ganga Fusion playing Thursday to Sunday. Il Mare currently has Gnaoua Family playing on the Weekends and attracts a good crowd too. For more information see "Essaouira Nightlife" blog posted last June.

Current Events:

The Alliance Françoise is hosting the exhibition "Le soufisme, « coeur de l'islam »" for the month of December. For at full schedule of events at the Alliance Françoise, go to their website at http://www.ambafrance-ma.org.

The Alliance Françoise is located on Rue Laalouj not far from Dar Suki.

Upcoming Events

Gnaoua Festival 2007 - Dates have yet to be posted.

Blog Posted each Monday by Ron Bauer, see you soon!