Day 17 – Essaouira last day
Last thing Tina said last night was wake me up early because she wanted to go to town in the morning with the others…. I dutifully obliged.
After breakfast we watched everyone start their walk to town whist we arranged a taxi. Neither of us could manage the 2km walk along the promenade. We met everyone at the other end and promptly had a stroll around the port part of the town. Even though we have been here a few times before we had never done this. So many people trying to sell their catch of fish and the variety that could be purchased was staggering. Everything from small, tiny fish to shark.
We had arranged to meet the others at a restaurant that Terry, Brenda and ourselves used last year. We started the casual stroll down the medina to join them for lunch. On the way Tina couldn’t resist looking in practically every shop … I joke but only a little. She bought some trousers which she even haggled and paid for herself. Yes I made a mistake and let her carry my wallet with all the money. I thought it would be safer but hadn’t reckoned her.
Near the end of lunch Tina decided to try and enlist the help of the waiter to go and get the best price for a shawl. She eventually bought it but I am sure the waiter didn’t get the best price. Having brought it back to the table she proudly showed the others and then found out it was gigantic… much to big for a shawl. No problem she must have thought as when leaving she spotted another more sensible offering. 60 dirhams was the price. I started at 40 and after much debate he at 55 and me at 50 we agreed the price at 50 as I threatened to walk away. Tina paid over the money and then tried to pay “this poor man” the extra 5 dirham I had reduced the price buy. I have to say this didn’t happen.
It was now mid afternoon and we had all enjoyed a very paletable meal in the courtyard restaurant in the warm sunshine. The only thing missing was an alcoholic drink. We started on our way back to the taxi rank so that we could let the dogs out from the van.
Once back at the van Tina spread the initial shawl over the bed and duly proclaimed that it was a bedspread and how wonderful that it matched the carpet we bought yesterday. Amazing how things work out wouldn’t you say!!
We had a quiet evening in the van. Tomorrow we are driving further down the coast to a small fishing village we have not been to before. Its about a 100 km drive. Hope there will be space for the vans when we get there!!