Early morning jogs on the beach of Agadir, Morocco

Agadir, MoroccoLast week, work found me in the coastal Moroccan city of Agadir, to the country’s south.

It was my first time to this city, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and rebuilt in a new and modern style. The beach is lined with hotels and the straight,white lines of the modern town have a harmonious style, although I so love the tumbling medinas when in Morocco, that this modern style doesn’t fully appeal to me.

Agadir, MoroccoHowever, Agadir is blessed with a long, curving beach of soft sand tumbling out to the Atlantic Ocean coast.

Since my work week was intense and the days were long, I decided to start each morning off  right with a peaceful jog along the beach as the city was waking up.

I am not a natural early bird, and I groaned inwardly each morning when my alarm rang. But as soon as my sneakers were laced up and I was out on the beach breathing in the fresh ocean air as the dawn colors were changing and the city was coming to life, I was very pleased that my athletic self won out over my evil, lazy twin.

Agadir, MoroccoFor this was one of the best parts of my day, breathing in the fresh, salty sea breezes, accompanying my friends the sea gulls that scattered themselves along the beach in search of their morning meal, watching the fishing boats hard at work, seeing the young men setting up their early-morning soccer games with their goals drawn in the sand – a quick game before they headed off to school or work (my sons would have been thrilled to have enthusiastically thrown themselves into the mix to join the match, as they do at nearly every destination we visit), and watching all my fellow joggers, walkers, stretchers out enjoying the same beautiful views and sense of peace a morning on the beach can provide.

Agadir, MoroccoIt’s always great to come to a new destination and to feel part of the culture by joining in on the locals’ daily routines. This is how I felt alongside the men and women of all ages who were serious joggers, the parents who were out dragging their reluctant, young children behind them, the groups of older women dressed in the Moroccan djellebas/aselhams flowing in the strong sea breezes, with their feet clad in brightly-colored Nike trainers.

Admittedly, I’d never thought of the traditional Maghreb robe as athletic wear, but it added a touch of local color to my picturesque morning run.

*Sigh* I’m already missing my early morning jogs in Agadir, and already looking forward to getting back.

For you morning joggers/business travelers, if you’re looking for other morning jogging posts, you can see my earlier post on Durres, Albania.

4 Comments

  1. evelyneholingue on March 6, 2016 at 2:35 am

    I smile reading about your early morning inner fight. Isn’t it amazing that the initial reluctance vanishes as soon as the shoes are on? I feel the exact same way. I love reading in bed and it’s so tempting! But running on a beach or doing yoga before a long work day is worth the effort.
    Love also how you notice other people engaged in the same kind of routine, also total strangers they become closer to us, just because we’ve done the same choice.
    By the way I’ve never been to Morocco and I deeply regret it. I left France way too soon!!!!

    • kimberlysullivan on March 8, 2016 at 9:10 pm

      True, but I still envy those super-motivated people who bounce out of bed in the morning. : ) Yes, I always find jogging when I travel to be a way to feel part of the (new) world around me. I’m a hopeless day-dreamer and always tend to imagine what it would be like to live in a place I’m visiting … and getting into daily routines like jogging helps to make me really feel a part of the surroundings. You’ll get to Morocco, Evelyne. More of a hike from CA than France, but I’m sure you’ll love it.

  2. […] more Morocco tips, see my earlier posts on seaside Agadir  and the beautiful city of […]

  3. […] on your next visit to Morocco. For other Morocco tips see earlier posts on the doors of Essouira, jogging on the beach of Agadir  and visiting beautiful […]

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