Morocco Day 7 - Argan Oil Cooperative and Essaouira Beach

 9/23/2026

We started out our day by visiting an argan oil cooperative run by women. We sketched quickly as we got a demo of the process of making the oil. We also got to try argan oil and argan butter. The nuts look a bit like almonds.

Then we headed off to the beach for more sketching. This was followed by a camel ride, something that was on my bucket list. We learned that there are no wild camels in Morocco - they are all owned by someone. I didn't feel good about the camel treatment - they tie their legs together to keep them in a lying down position on the beach so you can get on them. Speaking of getting onto camels - it's an adventure lol. So is getting off. We walked along the beach for an hour. The camel gate is bumpy and I had to hold on tight.

Argan oil cooperative

What's for dinner? Tagine!

Morocco Day 6 - Essaouira Harbor

 9/22/2026

We drove to the Essaouira area again for sketching. We went to the harbor to sketch the boats, which was challenging sketching. We needed shade, so we found the only shady spot to sit. A narrow spot with cars, motorbikes, and people walking by. I had to move 3 times when a parked car or motorbike needed to get out from behind me. We did have 3 men working in the harbor stop and talk with us. They loved what we were doing and told us if we needed any help during the day to let them know. We had seagulls flying all around us - I had my palette paper pooped on, but luckily, I was not pooped on.

Our Essaouira Villa, outside the medina

Not tagine!

Not tagine, but pretty similar :)

Today's cat at lunch

These 3 men were excited about us sketching the harbor

Check out the pooped stained walls

And the poop stained ground

Fresh fish for sale inside the medina

The ground was littered with ads for election candidates. 
There was an election while we were there.
Notice the cat is lying right next to large baskets of fish.

We stopped by the beach in the evening.

Not tagine!

Morocco Day 5 - Essaouira Harbor

9/21/2026

Our first full day in Essaouira. So many cats! We started out with a guide who told us a bit of the history of the area. Then we went to the harbor to sketch. All of the boats in the harbor are painted blue. Our guide said the fishermen thought that the fish wouldn't see them that way. Leftover paint was used in town. He also told us they are all the same design, so no fisherman would be seen as "better" or "above" anyone else.

For lunch, I had vegetarian tagine. For dinner, I had vegetarian tagine. At this point, people were suggesting I rate them :)

Entering the medina.

A rare dog sighting

Litters of kittens are common sights

This looks like Belem, Portugal!

Identical blue boats

Served for lunch and dinner every day

Tagine for lunch!

We found a place that serves wine

Tagine for dinner