Days 110-111 Agadir, Morocco

Weather
Sunny, upper 60's

Map

We arrived at about 6 p.m., so we chose to take things slowly and spend the evening on board. It is unusual for us to dock so late, but this time more than 100 passengers were leaving the ship for a two night overland journey. As we entered the port, we were in the Explorer’s Lounge on the seventh floor at the bow, where we noticed enormous Arabic lettering on the hillside that read “Allah, Al Watan, Al Malik,” meaning God, Homeland, King. The phrase reflects the country’s core values of faith, patriotism, and loyalty to the monarchy.

The following morning, we joined the included excursion, which featured a bus ride, a guided walking tour through town, a visit to an argan oil cooperative, and a cable car trip up to the Agadir Oufella fortress. The walking tour itself was scarce in terms of highlights, though the botanical garden stood out as a particularly beautiful and peaceful spot. At the argan oil cooperative, we watched a hands on demonstration of the traditional production process, still largely done by hand, and of course had the chance to browse and purchase a variety of argan based products. One of the highlights of the excursion was the cable car ride, offering sweeping views as we glided up to the fortress, originally built in the 14th century. From the top, we were rewarded with stunning panoramic views over the city and coastline. Amy even squeezed in a quick camel ride on a dromedary, while Tom bravely posed with a snake draped around his shoulders courtesy of a local charmer. Our guide shared insightful commentary throughout the tour, including a moving account of the devastating 1960 earthquake, which claimed the lives of roughly a third of the city’s population, including members of his own family.

Back at the ship, we quickly prepared for the afternoon outing, taking a shuttle into town before hopping in a taxi to Souk El Had, the largest market in Africa, spanning 13 hectares. There, we watched a demonstration of traditional spice grinding and picked up a selection of spices to bring home. The taxi driver actually waited for us while we shopped and then drove us back to the cruise terminal.

One of the region’s biggest draws is its abundant sunshine, and today certainly lived up to that promise, with beautiful weather throughout.