OTHER ACTIVITIES

Surf 'n Stay Gallery
 

1. Click here to view the full size
version of slide show of
excursions

Tagines & couscous

Morocco's most famous dishes are probably the tagine (photo above) and the couscous. The couscous is usually reserved for after midday prayers on Fridays, moslem sabbath. The tagine can be made from an inexhaustible stock of recipes inluding all meats - pork, of course, excepted - fish, crutaceans, and even vegetarian. It is probably more a method of cooking more than a dish. The cone shaped lid allows the juices of the ingredients to condense and trickle back down to the base plate, retaining all the natural flavour and vitamins. Tagines are traditionally scooped up from a communal plate with delicious homemade bread cooked in a simple oven which you will see putside every Moroccan house (photo below). The principle of sharing a common platter cements solidarity and breaks down class barriers. The above hands ( clockwise order) belong to (black tattoo): 72 year old mother of a police inspector, (no tattoos) the police inspector, (no tattoos) a graphical artist from Taroudant, (henna tattoos) a rich and cosmopolitan utterly devoted to alcoholism Berber lady from Agadir.

2. A photographic work of art:
Click here to view full size
version of slide show by Ronane,
a guest at Surf 'n Stay.
 

Photos from our excursions
slide show

Photo taken beyond Immouzir. A typical Moroccan house, constructed from and blending into the red earth. To combat the heat of the sun: Very thick walls insulate and conduct the heat down into the cold earth where it is absorbed, minute, if any, windows, never facing the sun and usually only opening to a sheltered inner courtyard. Native answer to air conditioning. You will often notice gaily coloured rugs, bed covers and clothing spread out on bushes in the burning sun. No they have not been washed and need drying, water is a sparse resource in Morocco. They are being sterilized by the sun's ultra-violet rays - much as water is now freed from bacteria - the natural way. There is much to be learned and relearned in Morocco. Open your eyes and your mind.

Boilers: If you travel by bus from Taghazout to Tamri you will see boilers just before you come to the lighthouse tower at Cap Ghir. At this spot the sea is almost always boiling - hence the name - and the funnelled winds from the south meet the North-western trade winds leading to almost permanent gale force winds and turbulences.

Tamri: Every day of the week you will see rows of fruit and vegetable stalls lining the main street in the village of Tamri. You can also buy olive oil, argan oil, and wild honey at these stalls. Bananas predominate and come from the estuary between the village and the beach. We recommend that you stock up on the fresh produce here, at prices that won't dent your spending money.

Tamri beach is an excellent place to spend a relaxing afternoon on your way home from the Monday morning souk. There are some interesting caves with a fresh water spring on the left hand side of the beach. The beach also offers surfing for the less experienced.

The tea culture

National drink: "A tay bi neh'na", Moroccan whiskey, some of the most common synonyms for Morocco's national drink, peppermint tea. This tea is made from green Chinese gunpowder tea. Although in rural areas the teapots and glasses may be rather simple, all try to imitate the "high art" of tea making, reminiscent of the Japanese tea ceremonies with green tea. Ideally tea is served on a "sinya" or three legged tray, usually made of brass, plus a smaller tray which holds three boxes, one for green tea, one for mint and one for sugar. After the second world war sugar was such a valuable commodity in Morocco that it was kept in boxes resembling safes, and always locked. Today's boxes have not lost the sinister aspect of secure containers. The tea is boiled, yes boiled, in a samovar which brews strong, highly concentrated tea. Then it is heavily is sweetened with - up to 20% of the volume is sugar - and a few sprigs of mint are crushed in the fingers and put into the teapot. The tea is then poured into a teapot (known as a Moroccan style pot) which is elongated rather than round with a longer spout. The tea is poured from this teapot held high in the air into small crystal glasses with brass handles, poured back into the pot and re-poured up to thrice or until the expert is satisfied with the foam content and consistency in the glass. Side effects and proof of the popularity are the brown stained (tannic acid) and later rotting teeth and a very high rate of diabetes, no doubt caused by overly high sugar content. Although the arabic coffee tradition is evident in urban areas you will be unable to get any drink other than tea in a rural area. The tradition is, however, reasonably recent. In the 1850s during the Crimean War when British ships were banned from trading in the Baltic by the Russians, the British sailed to new countries looking for buyers of their tea cargo. While visiting Morocco they sold a few chests of green tea, thus, launching the tradition of tea drinking which is now ubiquitous.

A rare snapshot

Once every few years heavy rains fall ( I am told that the last time was 15 years before I was lucky enough to be able to take this snapshot). Here we have the wadi in Paradise Valley, which normally is no more than a trickling stream, damned here and there, to provide bathing and washing facilities for the locals, overflowing its banks. The floods are caused less by the quantity of water than the complete inability of the arid dried out soil and rock to absorb any water. The sparse vegetation, mainly argan and olive trees both have very small leaves incapable of breaking the erosive blows of raindrops, the gnarled roots are useless at holding the scarce deposits of red earth on which they grow. Erosion progresses, desertification creeps further northwards, and additionally we are told that the climate is changing and has a substantial impact on the olive crop. The average harvest of olives remains constant but the quantity of olive oil that can be gleaned from the olives dropped in 2007 to 30% of the 2006 level. This produces great hardship on mountain Berber dependent on olive oil as a supplement to their stable diet of dry bread.

Local youths show their acrobatic ability and flee the heat and daily labour in a damned pool in Paradise Valley

Agadir port and beach from the Kasbah

A view of Essaouira harbour

A fairytale house overlooking Paradise Valley

with a spectacular view from the back garden ...............

 

 
As Steve Davis would probably say “Its not just all about snooker(or surf, surf, surf) here,

We have other activities too!

like pool billiards, for example

Taghazout actually does have pool billiard, but it not just surf, surf, unless, of course, you want it that way. There is a plethora of other activities for the surfer on his/her day off, or for the people in the party who don’t surf. We often offer our hospitality to groups who never have or never will surf. Apart from boasting one of Morocco’s best and most beautiful beaches which at weekends and during school holidays is a favourite destination for residents of Agadir in preference to their own internationally renowned beach, there is a wealth of other activities to while away your holiday, always returning to the tranquillity of the village for a long nights rest away from the bustle of tourist centres. 

Main activities categories are:   
Sporting       Shopping   Clubbing      Excursions     Other

Sporting Activities:

Taghazout and the immediately adjoining region offer excursions on horseback, camel or quad,  hiking, trekking, climbing and mountain biking in the Atlas mountains which act as a backdrop to the coastline. All necessary equipment can be hired locally and there are experts on hand for advice and guidance. If you want to make specific enquiries or arrangements in advance let us know. Around Agadir there are also several excellent golf courses and a tennis club in the city centre. The city centre also has a first division football stadium with its own team Taghazout beach offers jet ski hire facilities. On Taghazout beach you will always be welcome to join the locals in their non-cease football games. Morocco’s coastline is one of the fish richest areas in the Atlantic. You can join a myriad of locals who while away their leisure and top up their pocket money with coastline fishing. There is also the possibility of hiring a boat and going offshore for an exciting day’s big game fishing.

Donkey surfing: Well not yet generally available. On his day off from changing sheets at Surf 'n Stay, Abdellah is trying to develop this new sport. The cacti in the background discourage lack of concentration.

Back to top of "Other Activities"

Shopping
Taghazout will probably suffice for your daily shopping requirements and you will probably even be able to pick up some small souvenirs from the local shops. However, even if it is only for the sake of an exotic oriental bazaar atmosphere a visit to the walled souk in Agadir is a must. The walled souk is probably the only surviving structure older than 50 years in the city. Agadir was levelled by an earthquake on February 29, 1960, killing 15 000 people but giving the government the possibility to reconstruct as a modern tourist city.  As everywhere in Morocco leather products such as sandals, gaily painted lamp shades, jackets and coats are worth buying. Morocco is famed for its exquisite jewellery and artefacts. Spices, dark mountain honey for sore throats (bees fed on wild thyme) or orange blossom honey for tummy upsets, the incredible argan oil, the preferred oil of the cosmetic industry, all for a fraction of European prices. Incidentally, argan grows only in certain regions of Morocco and demand far outstrips the meagre supply. Medical experts are currently studying why breast cancer is practically unknown among  Berber women who regularly consume argan oil, mixed with wild chocolate and peanuts ( called alma) . We’ll not pre-empt a voyage of discovery in the souks by betraying more. Let the hawkers convince you of the efficacy of their secret natural aphrodisiacs and much more.

Should you wish to do bulk shopping and are price sensitive then it might even be advisable to travel 10 kms south to the souk in Inezgane where prices are usually substantially lower. Inezgane is the biggest transport hub town in the region with long distance and local bus departures. The shops along the streets of Agadir, especially in the hotel areas, also offer a wide variety of souvenirs at whatever price they think you will pay. Since the assortment of speciality goods is very similar in all outlets and the price is rarely fixed you might have to hone your haggling skills. One effective method is to offer a small fraction of the of the price the trader asks for at one outlet, observe the reaction and note the lowest price the trader offers,  then go to the next outlet and use the experience you just gained to narrow the gap further, and so on till you feel you have reached the pain threshold.  Above all beware of touts who will claim to lead you to the cheapest prices but will actually collect commission. Be especially cautious of taxi drivers and when an excursion driver stops his vehicle at a souvenir outlet. You are better not entering the shop as otherwise you might be pressurised into buying trinkets you don’t want at exorbitant prices. Having said that though it must be emphasized that the vast majority of Berber hawkers are honest traders, intensely proud of their race which they claim is proud of its honesty, there seems to be truth in this. They claim it is only Moroccans who tend to overcharge tourists but we have found little evidence of this.
Back to top of "Other Activities"

Nightlife and Clubbing

There are always small groups of Moroccans and surfers who devise their own entertainment throughout the village. Nightlife In Agadir is another major attraction. Replete with bars, pubs, casinos and nightclubs, Agadir is one of the most happening tourist destinations in Morocco. The traditional music and dance performance by native Moroccan artistes is an experience worth savouring. There are several free concerts and music festivals sponsored by the Municipality of Agadir.

You can walk along the crowded promenade in perfect security till the ‘wee hours of the morning’. All along the promenade there are dozens of inexpensive cafes and restaurants, some with free traditional  live musicians of the highest standard for those who wishes to relax with food, music, beer or wine and entertainment after a tiring surfing day.

Most of the Night Clubs in Agadir are in-house entertainment centres for the guests of the various hotels and resorts in the city. These, however, do allow the locals and international tourists to drop in and sample their excellent services. Saturdays are action packed nights as the discos and the dance floors of these night clubs fill in. Drinking liquor and wine in public by tourists is accepted but its display and drinking by Moroccans, particularly in public is prohibited in the city, under the Moroccan law. Despite this, a good number of Bars & Pubs in Agadir serve wines, spirits, cocktails, mocktails and such beverages. The drinks at Agadir are relatively expensive. The Casinos in Agadir are also hubs of excitement, entertainment and provide a lively nightlife to the tourists. Casino Le Mirage and the Shem's Casino d'Agadir are the famed and the games provided for here are blackjack, roulette and poker.
Back to top of "Other Activities"

Excursions

There is a wide range of worthwhile excursion  destinations ranging from the local to the far off.

Tamri     Surf 'n Stay Surprise     Paradise Valley/Immouzir     Essaouira     Marrakech    Other

Tamri Weekly market (souk)
The shortest excursion could be a trip on the regular bus for the 30 kms to the souk in the Village of Tamri. The souk is Monday morning only and can be reached by alighting the light green Zetrap  number 61 bus to the end of the line in a northerly direction (cost around 1€. On the way along the winding road which clings the coastline you will have spectacular views of unspoiled and deserted beaches, harsh breakers on the rocky coastline, secret surfing spots, the lighthouse of Cape Ghir. You may even catch a glimpse of flocks of mountain women, chaperoned by  small boys or old men (chastity guardians) who make the 2 hour descent from the mountains  to risk their lives gathering mussels on the wave swept rocks, shell and roast them on the spot before bringing them back to the mountain as a welcome protein supplement to their meagre cost. Tamri itself boasts its own splendid beach and freshwater spring in a beach cave so bring along your swimming gear for afterwards.

A visit to the souk on Monday will enlighten you on how the subsistence level peasants who descend on the village from the surrounding mountainside to stock up larders with their weekly necessities, travelling on their donkeys or as passengers  perched on the roof of 40 year old but ubiquitous Ford Transits vans. These vehicles are highly valued in Morocco value for their speed, versatility,  reliability and high axels which help manoeuvres on rutted mud tracks back up the mountain (remember the 1960's movies? Transits were the getaway vehicles of choice – the cops didn’t stand a chance).

If you do go to Tamri beach after the souk, you may be treated to a sunset like this on the cliffs overlooking beach.

The observant tourist will notice that the essentials consist of flour, dried peas, beans, lentils, huge quantities of sugar, cooking oil, fruit and vegetables. This reflects the staple diet consisting of bread which each house bakes daily dipped in olive oil, butter, or a mixture of argan oil, wild chocolate and peanuts called alma, or non-centrifuged honey complete with honeycomb. Most families eat minute quantities of meat once per week and the occasional egg. They are largely dependent on getting employment on the fishing boats departing from Dakla, 1200 kms to the south. Temporary government fishing bans to preserve stocks often leave whole families in the mountains around Tamri at starvation level for months. You will also observe that there are almost no women at the souk, an almost exclusively male province. There are adequate restaurant facilities and freshly grilled sardines in the village. Allow at least a half-day for the round trip. Feel free to alight from the bus anywhere your fancy takes you on the return leg.
Back to top of "Excursions"      Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

Surf ‘n Stay Special

A half-day trip to a real Berber home with hospitality and a mountain walk in the everyday surroundings of a Berber family. Discover what life is like in the hills around Taghazout. Ask us and we’ll surprise you.

Back to top of "Excursions"      Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

Paradise Valley/Immouzir
This scarcely known  and unforgettable trip can be made in your rented car or by special arrangement with a taxi driver. The route will take you through Banana Village (Aorir) where you branch left off the main road and after passing through the villages of Alma you will be confronted with a breathtaking view of the mini-village of Themsergout at the mouth of Paradise Valley. The next 8 kms will take you through an almost dried out river bed with towering cliffs on both sides, reminiscent of grand canyon but with oasis vegetation, an experience you will never forget. You can even stop for a swim at the local natural swimming pool, the Marsa. The valley has its own trickling waterfall. After Paradise Valley you will ascend to almost 100 meters above sea level to the town of Immouzir. Another 15 minutes will get you to the Cascades de Immouzir, the waterfalls. Here a natural pool has water all year round and local mutes dive from the cliffs above risking their lives (there used to be 3 , now there are only 2) for pennies from the tourists. There are numerous cafes and small hotels en route. Allow a full day for the round trip.
Back to top of "Excursions"      Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

Essaouira
Situated in a windy bay 160 kms to the North of Taghazout lies Essaouira a protected world heritage site. The town has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The site was occupied by Phoenicians and then Carthaginians and was mentioned in the chronicles of the Carthaginian explorer Hanno (5th century BC). The Berber name “Amogdul’  means the well-guarded and is a Berber corruption of the word for ‘safe anchorage’ and the bay in front of Essaouira is almost closed by the large island of Mogador – now a prison, making it a relatively peaceful harbour protected from waves but not against the prevailing Northwest trade winds. Swell surfers will be disappointed, windsurfers thrilled . The actual city of Essaouira was only built during the 18th century, by Mohammed III wishing to reorient his kingdom towards the Atlantic  for increased exchanges with European powers, chose Mogador as his location. He hired a French engineer,  Theodor Cornmut, and several other European architects and technicians, to build the fortress along modern lines. Originally called "Souira", "The small fortress", the name then became "Es-Saouira", "the beautifully designed".
Mohammed bin Abdellah encouraged the establishment of Jewish as well as foreign traders. They were around one thousand by 1780. He also forced European nations to establish consulates in the city, but the city never really flourished, as it was too far away from the traditional caravan routes. Up till today the city is considered a Jewish enclave although the majority of Jews emigrated to Israel in two waves, 1948 and 1972.
Today the city remains largely the same as then, unscathed and unchanged over the centuries. Essaouira is a walled and fortified city with the original Portuguese cannon (ideal to have tour pix taken) still guarding  the ramparts against an unknown and invisible foe who one day may emerge from the Atlantic mists.

The last time they were used was in 1844 when following the French invasion of Algeria in 1830 and Morocco's subsequent alliance with Algeria's Abd-El-Kadar against France, Essaouira was bombarded and briefly occupied by the French Navy under the Prince de Joinville on August 16th, 1844. The next historic event in the city was the filming of Orson Welles Othello in 1955. Bob Marley and Jimmy Hendrix whiled away many weeks here and today the Gnaouwa  Music Festival of Essaouira (annually around mid-June) is probably the number one cultural event for the Moroccan citizen.

A walk round the city ramparts with a view of the open sea and the protecting island of Mogador, is a must for the visitor to Essaouira.

The city is made up of the Medina quadima (old city), the ramparts, the Kasbah (fortress), and the port. The fishing harbour, suffering from the competition of Agadir and Safi remains rather small, although the catches (sardines, conger eels) are surprisingly abundant. Nevertheless, the port here is open to visitors whereas in Agadir entry is controlled. The thuya wood carving is one of the typical hand crafts Essaouira has been famous for centuries. At the Eastern gate you will be impressed by the dozens of light blue horse drawn taxis beside their motorized competitors of the same hue.
Allow a full day for this trip …. And bring along  something to wear, the wind can be chilly.
Back to top of "Excursions"      Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

Marrakech

Djem el Fna (Place of the Dead), the true centre of Marrakech, is anything but dead at night.

You will need at least 8-10 hours for the round trip to Marrakech ( 282 kms on serpentine mountain roads) so we do not recommend the day trips touted around everywhere. The day trip coaches also leaves on the return leg at 17 00 hours, at the latest, long before the city square, Djem el-Fna (Place of the Dead), comes alive after nightfall; thronged with dancers, fortune-tellers, musicians, acrobats, storytellers and snake charmers, it is an exciting and occasionally bewildering place – an exotic spectacle that is striking and endlessly surprising. Not to be missed by early coach departure.

We therefore recommend that you spend the night there at the beginning or end of your holiday.
Founded in 1062, Marrakech was once the capital of an empire that stretched from Toledo to Senegal. Called the Pink City’ because of the colour of the local earth used in its construction, it is a city of labyrinthine alleyways, secluded palaces, museums, mosques and markets. The city’s gardens are still supplied with water from 11th-century underground irrigation canals. Koutoubia, the 12th-century mosque, is as tall as the towers of Nôtre Dame and dominates the Marrakech skyline. The Ben Youssef Medersa, with its mosaics, marbles and carved woodwork, is the largest theological site in the Mahgreb. It forms part of Marrakech’s UNESCO-listed medina, now a World Heritage site, crammed with architectural masterpieces. Other interesting places to see are the sumptuous Bahia Palace; the beautiful Saadian Tombs housing the remains of rulers of the Saadian Dynasty; the Dar Sisaid Museum; the Menara and Aquedal gardens and the famed camel market.
An hours drive from Marrakech is Oukaimeden, Morocco’s best ski resort. This trip can be combined with a visit to Ourika (which has a donkey market) and Asni. The latter is an excellent base for visiting Jebel Toubkal, Morocco’s highest mountain, set amidst spectacular scenery. The snow scenes you see in Ronane’s slideshow were shot near here.
Back to top of "Excursions"      Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

Elsewhere
There are lots of other places worth a visit. The walled Arab city of Taroudant ids only 97 kms Inland from Agadir and can be reached by Communal taxi –change taxi at Agadir. The round trip should not cost more than 15 - 20 €.There is plenty to do in the area. Red-walled Taroudant is worth a visit, home of the leather industry and with a wonderful souk for carpets and lanterns. Tiznit, further south is home of the silver and gold jewellery trade. We can also point you in the direction of some excellent but less-publicised surf breaks in the vicinity Or you may take a couple of days and progress even further south to another good surf break at Sidi Ifni, an ex-Spanish enclave where Spanish is spoken rather than French  Tafraoute is another popular destination for day trippers although it is quite far away (222 kms) if we consider the low quality, winding, and treacherous mountain road.
Back to top of "Excursions"      Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

Other
The Souss Massa beginning in Agadir and stretching southwards (338 km²) has been declared a National Park.

It contains many rare bird species and is becoming one of the favourite destinations for birders (or if you insist "ornithologists") in search of endangered or rare species such as the Northern Bald Ibis or Geronticus eremita (now half the remaining world population of 421 birds live in 3 colonies in the Souss area and one in Tamri); Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Eleonora`s Falcon, and African Marsh Owl, as well as other species such as Dupont`s Lark, Moussier`s Redstart, Desert Warbler, Black-crowned Tchagra, and Desert Sparrow.

Northern Bald Ibis cross swords in the Souss Massa National Park

Photographers will also have no shortage of subjects and objects and the coastal light challenge of North Africa will perplex and challenge even the most experienced. We would mention that photographing native girls or women is not advisable unless you have explicit permission from their chaperons who are never far away.
Back to "Other Activities sub-Menu"

 

About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us |
©2007 C h r i s C r o f t s