“Come with me to the kasbah” in Agadir, Morocco

As noted in previous posts, Vann and I have had good luck seeing the sights with a private driver rather than on the ship’s excursions.  We get to choose our own itinerary, set our own pace, escape the crowd, and provide work (at a reasonable cost) to a local person.  When we left the ship yesterday in Agadir, we were approached by Sayid; we told him where we wanted to go, agreed on a price, and off we went.

First stop was at the funicular that took us up to the kasbah, or fortress overlooking the port city.

Sayid reminded us that in 1960, Agadir suffered an earthquake that claimed the lives of one-third of its population, left 35,000 people homeless, and caused near-total destruction of the city.  The kasbah, now rebuilt, offers a panoramic view of the new Agadir.  The emerging and modern city thoughtfully capitalizes on its waterfront location.  There is affordable housing. Expansive desert landscaping and walking paths have been added.  Development continues and promises to make Agadir a world-class destination.

While it had not been on our original list, Sayid pretty much told us that we would go to Medina, and we’re glad he did.  Another victim of the earthquake, this center for creativity and trade has been beautifully restored with its labyrinth of narrow streets and courtyards reflecting traditional Moroccan architecture.

The quilter in me was dazzled by the mosaic floors.  (Just one square of dozens more.)

Our last stop was at Souk El Had, a marketplace with an estimated 6000 vendors!  Encircled by 18-foot walls with 13 gates, it is the largest urban market in Africa, covering more than 32 acres.  Locals know their way around, but for a couple of first-time visitors it was overwhelming.  It became clear why Viking did not offer Souk El Had on its included excursion:  too many passengers would be there still!   Lucky for us, Sayid stayed at our side, watching our steps as we navigated the narrow and uneven passageways and making sure we took in all the colors, smells, and sounds of this incredible, most authentic  experience.