Not the kind of Monday people normally associate with blue.
Let's talk beautiful Moroccan blues.
Except for the news out of Paris this morning that fashion guru,
Yves Saint Laurent passed away. Ironic, I was going to do this
post about the coastal village Essaouira in Morroco, (About a three
hour drive from Marrakech) where the landscape changes to
white sands splashed with vivid blues. 
The same vivid blue known as Majorelle Blue after the famous Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech that Yves Saint Laurent so lovingly restored. May he Rest in Peace. 
Forest of Thuya wood with Essaouria in the background.
Thuya is similar to cedar in that it looks the same
and smells a bit like it. Essaouria is known for its carved
boxes and furniture made from Thuya.
A fishing port on the Atlantic, Essaouira was founded by the Portuguese in the 18th century.
They are known for their sardines and eels. (UGH!)
And everything is blue, blue, blue! (even the cars)
Rooftop terraces and restaurants are the norm and it is
a painter's paradise. I fell in love with the whitewashed walls!
Rumor has it that it used to be a Pirate's Cove and a 60's
Party town for the likes of Jimmy Hendrix. It now attracts
windsurfers from all over the world.
Didn't do a lot of shopping, just picked up a few pottery
pieces and a CD titled "Desert Blues". I thought that
was appropriate.
If you travel to Marrakech, I would suggest you visit
Essaouira. I liked the Spanish influence and the
people were very friendly. The shopowners don't
exit their shops to pull you inside like they do in
Marrakech. It is a much more laid back ambiance.
Hope you enjoy the photos and here is wishing
you a beautiful Blue Monday!
Bisou
22 comments:
Again a wonderful tour of a city I have yet to pass through. A close friend's sister works for the YSL empire and they are all" deeply depressed" and the atmosphere is "without colour or song" she writes. Thanks for the beautiful tour as I start a crazy 18 hr day!
Your pictures of Essaouira are as stunning as those of Marrakech!
Beautiful. Like all of your photography and how pretty it looks on your blog.
Constance
I must tell you, your blog is always just beautiful and so very interesting, but, the Moroccan pictures really grabbed my attention. Off and on for years, up until the early 1990's, we lived in the Bethioua and Arzew area of Algeria...near Oran, due to my husbands oil and gas projects. We always drove to Morocca for shopping, and R & R.
Also, even though we are from Alabama, we have a lake home at Lake Malone, Kentucky and spend time in your area. I do hope to get into your shop one day. What gorgeous things you have!!! Thanks for blogging and sharing all of your very beautiful treasures and stories.
Yaya
ASouthernSunset.blogspot.com/
We lived in Morocco for 2 years and Essaouira was one of our favorite places to visit...!! Thank you for sharing the pictures, it brought back lovely memories!
Isabel
What a lovely blog. Morocco has always been on my list of places to visit but after seeing these pictures I think I need to move it higher on the list!
Kathy...I could live without a lot of colour...but song?
Thank you Lili m. Trust me, its not me it's my new camera!
Constance..Thanks for visiting and your lovely comments.
YaYa..Some day I'll get to Algeria, my french sister was born there! How coold you come to Ky, by all means you must come visit..I will chill the wine mon ami!
Isabel..lucky you! I did really like Essaouira!
Robin..yes, everyone needs to go at least once!
Thank you all for your lovely comments. I love sharing the photos and its nice to know you appreciate them!
Gros bisou to you all !!!!!!!
I love your blog! Just discovered it via The Paris Apartment.
I had no idea that YSL passed away. What a great icon he will be.
I will definitely be frequenting your blog again and again:)
What a beautiful Country!! Loving the blues...
aaaahh beautiful blue, really enjoyed seeing these photos, its so cold up here on our mountain!!
alicia ~ time worn style
Hi and thanks for the amazing blue!
and all the rest. What a fantastic trip you have been on. Happy I found your blog. Just a question, how is it possible to get the pictures so large? I have blogspot too but I have mine on max. Maybe I have missed one or two lines reading the information.
Do you want to share or is it a secret?
Maria
Maria
Thanks!
No secret..
After you load the photo in the compose mode, switch to "Edit HTML"
In the description for the photo, near the end of the paragraph you will see the width in html format
ex.
/s400/yadayada. I just change the 400 to an 800.
Note.. The original photo must be the size you request or larger.
Hope this helps :)
Shawn, I have absolutely LOVED viewing your incredible photo's of Marrakech and Essaouira. The colours and sights are of such incredible beauty. That fishing boat pic could be a postcard.
What an enchanting place to visit. I hope someday my travel bug will take me there.
Anna :)
Thank you for sharing these breathtaking pictures with us Shawn. You are a gem! The spices..and the blues..and pinks..oh my!
xo Roberta
Essaouira is my favorite city in Morrocco !
And I love this special morroccan blue !
Great post
What an incredible post - I almost feel that I'm there! The light is fantastic, it just enhances the vivid colours of the scenery perfectly.
Your observations about visiting places off the traditional tourist tracks are invaluable.
Mille ^_^
Hi!
Thanks for sharing these magial pictures, I have been sitting here for a long time enjoying them!
I haven´t spent very much time blogging these past 2 weeks so I had lotof catching up to do :)
It seems like you´ve had alovely time in Europe...I´m so glad for you!
Have a great weekend
XOXO
Mia
Hi!
I came across you blog and it looks really interesting.
My name is Ivica and I also have a destination blog called ‘’Experience Serbia’’ (check it out on http://www.experienceserbia.blogspot.com/)
I’m trying to develop it further, so I’m planning to expand my links section. I was wondering, having in mind that our blogs have a similar topic, would you be interested in exchanging links?
If you are, please send me an email to i.milaric@gmail.com
Thanks and I hope we will be in touch,
Ivica Milaric
http://www.experienceserbia.blogspot.com/
Hi Shawn,
I am having a little fun event over at my blog. I was wondering if you could help to get the ball rolling and be the first to participate. I would be honored. Thanks, Keri
Keri
That is a great idea.
Can we only post one?
I have sooo many.
Ok my next post.
Lovely photos, thanks for the tour. It is on my list for a visit someday.
I just love coming to visit your beautiful blog. The photos are always so GORGEOUS that you feel like you can step right into them! xoxo ~ Joy
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