A recent collection of old clothes from friends in the sartorial capital of England (that’s Manchester, in case you were wondering) turned up some lovely shirts and jumpers…just right for those chilly February evenings in Essaouira. Thanks everyone… they’ll be on the plane out tomorrow…
Thanks to Vicky and friends, who stayed at Dar 91 over New Year, for their very generous donation of school chalk – which will be winging its way to Morocco tomorrow!
We are delighted to report that we are now featured in the Alastair Sawday Guide to Morocco. Read our online entry here or buy the book through Amazon here (we’re in the 2010 edition, due out 1 March). If you don’t already know the Sawday guides, they’re well worth a look…full of lovely houses run by great people (even if we do say so ourselves!).
We would like to wish everyone a fantastic and peaceful 2010
Just back from Essaouira where we enjoyed the Festival des Andalousies Atlantiques – a genuinely multicultural event which brought together people of all religions to celebrate Andalusian classical music – from which developed Flamenco and other more familiar styles. In its heyday (the Middle Ages) the Andalusian culture extended from Spain to Morocco and other parts of North Africa, and after the Muslims and Jews were expelled from Spain in the 15th century – many of them fleeing to Morocco - the diaspora has kept it alive.
Andre Azoulay, one of the most high-profile Jews in the Arab world – who was born in Essaouira and is an advisor to the Moroccan king – is a driving force of the festival. He told Associated French Press: “The music you hear is a reality in the hearts and minds of millions Moroccans, both Jews and Muslims. But today when you talk about Jews and Muslims, the subject is … rarely something that brings us together. That is why this festival is so dear to me.”
The randomness of Essaouira……shoe dangling on electric cables
The Festival of the Atlantic Andalusias will be held in Essaouira from the 29th October till the 1st of November.
Held for the first time in 2003, the Festival encourages peaceful coexistence and cultural exchange, it also celebrates the Andalusian contibution to the cultures of Spain, North Africa and Latin America.
This year it will focus on a Moroccan Jewish musical tradition known as Matrouz. Rabbi Haim Louk will sing accompanied by the Zyriab Orchestra and the Franco-Algerian pianist Maurice El Medioni will perform with the Jewish Moroccan singer Raymonde el Bedaouia.
The Festival will pay a posthumous tribute to 1950s singer Zohra Fassi who was a militant for he peaceful coexistence of Jews and Muslims in Morocco.
Bands that have previously performed at the festival includes: the Radio-Tarifa Band, Pedro Solar, Javier Ruibal, Tauria Hadraoui, Guason and Samira Kadiri.
If you are booking a stay with us, we can arrange taxis to/from your hotel or the airport – whether you’re travelling to/from Marrakech, Agadir or elsewhere.
From Marrakech to Essaouira a taxi cost 600 DH and from Agadir 700 DH, from all other destinations please contact us directly.
To move around the new town you can take a petit taxi – these small blue cars can carry up to 3 passengers and in the urban zone they charge 6DH per trip; after 20.00, it is 7DH
The following low cost airlines fly to Marrakech:
easyJet from: London Gatwick, Manchester
Ryanair from: Bristol, East Midlands, Luton
Atlas Blue from: London Gatwick
