| | Last weeks in Agadir
Not only do we have to take it easy because of my twisted knee, but also because we have to mentally digest all the impressions of this beautiful country.
On 21 February 2017 there is a slight quiver sensible on the boat. We don’t give it too much attention at first. Not much later, messages start coming in about an earthquake in the region of Agadir and Inezgane. A quake with a force of 4,5 on the Richter scale was measured in the province of Chtouka ait Baha, at 7:44. Dozens of inhabitants left their houses in panic at the first trembling, as is to see on several videos on the social media. The devastating earthquake of 1960, where 12.000 people were killed has certainly not been forgotten here. We are again extra glad to live on a boat.
Boat-and harbour chores
Our new asset, the pink washing machine, is tried out by Fred. Our dirty laundry has been piling up nicely the last few weeks, so we have several ’washing-days’ now. Although the machine obviously takes up space, we are very happy with our purchase!
We have equipped the vane with the aluminium strips we ordered in the Netherlands. A few old mooring-ropes, that were worn, are replaced by new ones. On a certain day we don’t get any water at the showers and when we ask when this is going to be fixed, the answer is:”…in an hour…” RIGHT!
There is water, but only the next day! We take a few pictures of the surroundings of the marina and of the lousy facilities.
Other things
In Agadir they have a small-scale bird park, "Vallee des Oiseaux" it has open access. It is not far from the boulevard and is very much in demand by Moroccan families. There are all kinds of birds and animals. Unfortunately, the housing and the area where the animals live, is poorly made, which makes for a sad sight. It looks like the municipality only has money for the guards in the park. Pity the entrance is free, or else they would have had a little income to improve some things.
We went to Uniprix, a large store where you can buy bits and bobs very cheap. In the same neighbourhood we also find a small covered hall/market, where I buy a bag full of Berber tea. Some pics are taken with FRITZ and Gonny. One day Fred speaks with a Russian young man, who very much wants to sail with us to the Canary Islands. A few days later, again, Fred speaks with another ‘candidate’, a French backpacker:” can she and her boyfriend sail with us?” The next day we see them at the harbour office. They are by now joined by a Swedish lady, who has been traveling around for over 2 years and…yes.. also wants to go to the C.I. We really have to think deeply about this. After a few days we lose track of them.
Women of the World
With Laila and her 3 daughters we are going for a drink on one of the terraces in the marina neighbourhood. After that we walk to her apartment to have a glance at the clothes that she designs herself. She is currently starting her own clothesline. Laila’s cat just had 3 kittens and I immediately fall for a ‘red’, very enterprising one. But, alas, we can’t wait 14 weeks to take him with us and by the way: we are not so sure what Kit would think of this little rascal.
Marjolein is in the Netherlands for some time, but we contact each other regularly through WhatsApp. She has set up her own business (www.madeinmaroc.eu) selling Moroccan products. With the proceeds she tries to help as many less fortunate people and strayed animals as she can. She is very committed with this group and does her best to improve their situations. She collects children’s clothing and such in the Netherlands, to give out free in Agadir. She also gives strayed animals the care they have need of. You can read about it on her Facebook-page: Marjolein Agadir. She is an example for many. Luckily she just came back to Agadir before we left and we quickly make a last appointment. We are invited to have dinner with her and her husband Saad in their apartment. It is so much fun to meet so many different ‘wereldvrouwen’ in their own surroundings. Communication with her husband is a little difficult: he only speaks Arabic and French and we are not very good at that. But Marjolein is an excellent interpreter. We enjoy the food and each other’s company.
Kit
Completely used to the surroundings. He jumps on the main pier a couple of times a day and chases the seagulls away, when they get too close. Sometimes he hides on another boat, but most of the time he comes back on board after a while. He makes his acquaintance with a big Husky, but that does not suit him so well and he is back on the boat in no time.
Other sailors
A boat sails in, with a Dutch flag, so enthusiastic as I am, greet them with a “welcome to Morocco”! They look a bit dumbfounded at me and in broken English tell me that they are French and bought the boat in the Netherlands. And this is only the first time it happens to me! Apparently the Dutch boat-market is more favourable then the French…. Still, a laborious people, the French!
We say goodbye to our Swiss sailors Anton and Sylvia; we will keep in touch.
Taxis
We take a taxi a couple of times, to the supermarket, and lately we notice they are trying to swindle us. An average ride-price is in between 12 and 15 DH (€1,20 -€1,50). But the baddest driver even asks 50DH. We are certainly not stepping into his car. They try this, because there are so many tourists in Agadir, who do fall for it. But after so long in Morocco, we know all the tricks of the trade.
Relaxing
In the last week I go to the “Natea les Massages d’Agadir” (www.Natea.info)and indulge myself with a hammam and a hotstone massage. Fred doesn’t like this at all, so I go alone. I even get picked up and brought back by taxi, for free. For 600 DH I get enjoyment for 2 hours. Scrubbed (stripped of my dirty old skin), rubbed in, rinsed off and massaged I return to the boat completely relaxed. Of course I will get some sort of reaction on the treatment, but it was worth it. To be recommended!
Time to move on
The last couple of days there has been a lot of wind, so we have to wait until the weather improves before we can leave. We leave Morocco for the Canary Islands, the first stop being Lanzarote.
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