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Bimini In The Bahamas
Bimini, one of the several islands of the Bahamas, is a wonderful place to vacation. Many sights of natural beauty await the tourist, as well as a few interesting landmarks, beautiful beaches, and exhilarating outdoors activities. And all of that is...
By nature, you are an adventurer
By nature, you are an adventurer
By nature, you are an adventurer, full of amazement and
curiosity about a world bigger than life itself. Learning about
cultures in faraway lands fascinates you, and engaging in new
experiences gives you an...
Fantastic Cruise Deals Abound at the Last Minute
Fantastic Cruise Deals Abound at the Last Minute Being a spur of the moment person has its advantages. It means you can “seize the day” and run with it, enjoying an opportunity when it comes your way. So the next time you’ve lined up your vacation...
Granville, a great summer resort
Granville is often described as one of the most attractive summer resorts of northern France. This town, located in the region of Normandy, is constantly receiving visitors from the entire world as well as from France since it is ideal for relaxing...
Tourist Attractions in Sweden - A Personal Top-10
Ask Sweden fans what's their favourite spot in Sweden and most will say there are too many to mention. On one thing they will agree: besides the beautiful capital Stockholm, the country’s main attraction is its landscape. But there's more. Sweden...
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Castles in the Sand
Jimi Hendrix wrote his song, "Castles in the Sand" in 1967,and
that was two years before he actually visited Morocco. The site
of "Castles in the Sand" was the then small town and fishing
village of Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic Coast. The town has
grown a lot in the intervening 35 years. It is relatively close
to the capital Casablanca, built around a busy fishing port.
Ironically Essaouira was one of only two ports in Morocco that
were entitled to trade with Europe, and so in the past it had
held a much more important role in Moroccan affairs than it does
today. As a trading port founded by the Portuguese in the
eighteenth century it lured business and business people to come
and work within its confines. In fact the British held an
important foothold there. However, with the growth of the French
protectorate, Casablanca was favored and in the early twentieth
century, and Essaouira fell into disrepair.
Today the fishing port is surrounded by whitewashed two storied
buildings with traditional blue shutters. Its sandy beaches are
uncluttered and for the most part empty of high-density
tourist traffic. Beyond the beaches are row upon row of rolling
dunes. These dunes provide ideal shelter because Essaouira is a
windy place and that is part of its charm! Because this town,
which the Portuguese named Mogador is a wind surfer's
paradise,
so much so that I plays host to several international
windsurfing competitions. But there's more, if there's wind
there is generally surf as well. Yes, Essaouira is also a
surfer's heaven, and they come from all around and even further
afield to catch rides on some big breakers. Another feature of
this remarkable Moroccan town is the Gnawas Festival, which is
probably the event that attracted Jimi Hendrix to the region.
The Gnawas comprise a traditional group of singers and
musicians. They are black because they come from a slave
heritage and this has greatly influenced their music that has a
heavy trance-inducing beat. The Gnawas Festival takes place in
June each year and draws people from all over the world.
Essaouira offers a grand selection of hotels and guest houses to
cater for all pockets and tastes. For example for something
rather different, "Dar Liouba" is a gem of a place. This small
guest house is a former Imam's residence which has been
re-designed by a Russian Furnisher and a French Chinese Jewelry
designer to be come a sophisticated hostelry filled with lush
green plants and traditional carved cedar wood, but if that's
not to your taste there is a lot more accommodation to choose
from.
Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same
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