At first the trip to Agadir looks like it will be funny since it was national holiday but all went well and as much as there was less people at the streets still there were taxi people there, sir taxi sir taxi … but I walked to local bus station for bus 32 o Tamraght which is located at beach side beside Casino …… and lots of hotel complexes and night clubs I had to get it through local Agadir which was nice as I passed through the local areas with pretty nice apartment blocs and also through some not so nice street with car repair shops at the street level in the hose, shops etc. Still I liked the experience as I saw the real Agadir where no tourist usually goes, which is not entirely true now ‘m thinking I saw two couple of mature tourist navigate the streets with map in hand. On the way I passed beautiful garden of birds which was in the middle of my path and full of local people with kids.

It started as nice path divided by nice water featured stream in mosaic channel middle of the walk, which leads to the fountain in the first part of the park. Then the park took different shape of bird ZOO as everywhere were birds in cages and in big free area what was covered by huge net above the trees. The path lead in the middle and it was sort of tunnel made of fence shaped as tunnel so no bird can fly in to the visitors. On the side of paths there were small cages with cockatoo and other birds and of course playgrounds for children on side. The whole park continued under the street and main road with featured waterfall directly under the road….

Then more path and birds, playgrounds until the park exited to the main sea front boulevard with water park on the right side. Walked the main sea front towards the bus stop and it was nice warm twenty degrees and sea breeze flowing nicely to cool off the strollers. Bus stop easy to find as where the map pointed and I have boarded bus 33 in 5 five minutes from arrival on bus stop for 7 dirhams, even is the 32 is specially for Tamraght but this one stopped there too. I was the only white man and the only foreigner on the bus. Strange feeling but I do understood how the people feel when they come to our western world. Some looked at me like a surprise or monkey from ZOO but no one said anything and the journey was pleasant with good breeze flowing through my clothes. Some windows were blocked by blankets what Moms put there to protect their infants from the sun. Bus was completely full and the stop request was done by loud banging on the roof of the bus 😊 thankfully local guy was getting off at the same stop so he banged twice until the door opened. Walked up the hill a bit to the Tamraght Surf Hostel which was recommend by S and it is nice, clean and pleasant for everyone for reasonable price of €7.5 per night negotiated from €8. THANK YOU S. Went for a bit of stroll and since I had enough of Tajine I decided to just purchase some veg and fruit and make myself a easy fresh salad dinner. Surprise surprise the shopping came to €15 which seems a lot but hey I thought I will save by buying food, but this could not be the case. On the way to shop the local man asked me for food and as I was returned back the same street I offered him mandarins which he refused like I was offering him poison, probably wanted meat. Dinner at balcony with beautiful sunset over the sea horizon “completely mesmerizing” forgot to take photo.

Morning kind of late sleep in as I’m on hols so no need to run on any schedule and got breakfast around 10 at the balcony, do some social media catch up and since the weather was not nice and late breakfast I decided to stay put instead of hike to Paradise valley and went surfing, well I would not call it surfing, more less trying to kneel in best effort stand on the surf

However the whole day went like few minutes in the waves and having a nice break and chat with local dude who runs the shop and gave me discount on board and wet suit instead of 150 dirhams I’ve got it for 100 dirhams, THANK YOU ! Lovely shack on the beach and since we talked a bit he said he lives a dream. Watching the sea, listening to crushing waves he said empty mind and happy life. His son was running around until Mom came too and then they just sat around. Father and daughter from Wales, dude from Bulgaria and girl from Germany was our team of want to be surfers and have to say that the Bulgarian dude and Welsh girl rocked and got a grip on standing not like me. However it was nice to be on the sun warm and sunbathing topless, which resulted in nap, what felt so good that I went to water again and again, until the waves were not existing. Then we all got engage in cleaning the beach which was filthy full of plastic debris….

Disgusting but hey we all are using plastic product and until you start cleaning the beach of plastic you might not understand the need of stopping use of plastic. When we finished the surf shop owner missis asked us to take picture so she can post it at Instagram as thanks for helping the clean. Most of people were already gone who helped clean but who was there is on the photo.

Walking back to hostel and watching sunset.

I was so happy and calm as I hav not be in long time. Stopped at Let’s Be restaurant for some fish burger and Nepal tea which was absolutely delicious and came to €11 which is a bit steep or Morocco but the food was worth it and also atmosphere. Read a bit of book of Russel Brand “Revolution” which the parts I read was interesting but need to be re-read and digest.

The dog came to lay down front of the shop like it was his home.

Ahh so peaceful and happy by myself, just watching sleeping sun going down behind cactus tree.

New day is here and I’m on my way to the Paradise Valley what is suppose to be hidden gem of area around and nice break from surfing as nothing much to do is here except the surfing and maybe walking around the village. Bus fare of 5.50 dirhams got me from Tamraght to Aourir what could be walked but I wanted to cat h early grand taxi to Paradise Valley to be on trek early. Ford Transit and Mercedes 200 are the most reliable cars ever as they are still working here as grand taxis and they haul fifteen people in Transit and 7 in Mercedes and I Can tell you not all the roads are good here. Sometimes I think that the grand taxis are designed for roads where normal buses would not survive. Got few bananas and mandarins with two bottles of water and ready to hit the road. The ride was forty minutes for 20 dirhams and at the road at Paradise Valley small espresso for 20 dirhams as they started setting up the vans for business. Funny to watch how they have all extension leads connected to one transformer and driver need to start van first before the coffee machine can be switched on. Trail is well walked / worn and easy to follow.

First few meters are nice until I came on the top of the hill and look below to the valley of business as I called it, because all the shacks “literally” were lining up around trail to sell water, drinks, fodd etc…. all the nice and beautiful nature ruined by shop shacks and plastic tables / chairs and debris. Thankfully after few hundred meters, shopping district finished and the nature opened up, still with remains of civilization i.e plastic bottles laying around the trail but les and less with gathered meters.

Another valley opened up and below was the pool so much expected but not lived up to it. About thirty people around it and two girls and one boy jumping in…. water did not look really nice to me and I was not in mood to wait in line to see someone jump so I went further thorough the river bed up high into valley. No one else there just me in silence of mountain and sun bleached rocks of canyon made by hurling water over the year.

Great views from river bed up, what could be experienced only in winter but I would like to come back and see the real paradise valley as this was like me beautiful, hard wearing rugged beauty but also in dry spell as is my sex life now. There was moment when I had to cross one nice balcony step about thirty meters above the riverbed full of rocks with just enough space to place my foot on the stone, suck up belly stuck to the wall and side step about one meter wide step. As I was making the side step thought came to my mind that if I fall here, this is the end and no chance anyone ever find my body. Still it was great experience climbing up the dry up waterfalls and rocks what were carved by river gods for possibly hundreds of years. Half way in I met two local guys walling with firewood and setting up small camp at river bed with fire. Eventually I have reached the road which leads to Cascade De’Immouzane and as soon as I stuck my thumb up the car stopped. Couple from Belgium and guy was local Bereber on vacation at home in Morocco. They were so nice and I was glad that they stopped as after we exchanged pleasantries in French they told me that that I have about 25 kilometers to the Cascades through very steep hilly and bendy roads. So thank God and guardian angels for them. We drove in slowly as discussed where I’m from, where did I walked, showed photos, talked about travels a bit and eventually learned that lady’s grandma was in Slovakia and travelled most of east Europe, Romania, Slovakia, etc… Which is really nice to hear as this was about forty five years back. They asked if there are Muslims in Slovakia and when I said not really the conversation died for a bit, until we reached peak and saw the amazing views of hills and valleys below. Since they were using he google maps as navigation, they were not sure where to go but with maps.me what I had we found the way easy and they were so surprised that such app exists and she started downloading it immediately. We reached village of Imouzane and there was Souk / market all over the streets so together with people and dogs on the street it was difficult to get through. It was like window shopping from window of a car in the mall 😊

The Cascades were empty, not only empty of tourist but also of water too but full of sellers of many trinkets for tourist trying to sell anything to few poor souls who made it there. Photos taken and we are back on the road. Thought that they will drop me to village and I will get a grand taxi but behold no, took me all the way back to Aourir. As we were leaving Immouzane the police check front of us mean usual routine of seat belts on. I knew as soon as I look upfront that the police was fixing eyes on me as I was only tourist in the car who just buckled up. Few traditional heated exchanges between driver and the police, what from articulation and gesticulation I knew is about me and we were finally off. As we were driving off It was explained to me that they wanted money because they saw me to fixing seat belt and I was tourist. However the driver was able to hold his ground in Arabic and I would say that he was even a bit pissed off by treatment. The rain started falling and I was glad that I was in the car and not on the trail as it would be much harder on wet rocks. Fresh dates and black olives hanging on the trees beside road just reach and grab it. The road itself was partially being rebuilt as per damage from water coming down the hills, bridges destroyed, parts of road fall down to the river bed and workers building support wall by pouring concrete to the prefab structure. Trip back was on the back seat but this time I was on my own not like on the way up where four of us stuck at bench with bags and the middle row has makeshift chair which was placed in over the wheel and cushion on top. Aourir is small village and all is happening on the main street as far as I saw.

Butchers on one side of the street, vegetable stools on the other, and at back closer to center of village restaurants and since all I had was bananas and coffee I sat down in first one for tajin for 25 dirhams and then on the way out got some nice puffed pastry like pillow case crunchy and sweet and later one more Moroccan doughnut what tasted soooo good. Road pointed straight to roundabout where all the grand taxi stay and pass the roundabout short road towards beach so last walk was on the beach. Slowly walked from Aourir to Tamraght on the beach and look at waves where surfers still being washed like dirty laundry by waves upon waves. Reached the shack where I rented surf from day before and the owner and his lady were so cool and relaxed so we had chat like old friends. She asked me how was the valley and I told her dry and hot, what she did not believe so she showed me her photos what were of girls in bikini sitting at pools of beautiful water under the palm trees, comparing to mine of dry riverbed and sun bleached rocks. We realized that her are taken in May, where the season is the best ad not in November after drought. Anyway we have exchanged Instagram and she went off I stayed a bit that her partner got ready for surfing and I went off myself. They are so nice and I really enjoyed our talk. THANK YOU if you reading this. Overall if you are not surfer than come here in May so you can have a bit of Paradise experience for yourself. Here the Tamraght exploration is ending as tomorrow is move day 😊 moving to Essaouira.

And here she was…..

Waiting on the beach on my way to the hostel.