The doors of Essaouira, Morocco

I’ll definitely focus a future post on the picture-perfect coastal city of Essaouira, in central Morocco, with its impressive walls, its position as an outpost on the Atlantic, its windy coastline, and its past as a Portuguese colony.

But today, I want to concentrate primarily on the colorful doors of Essaouira.

This is one of the (many) aspects I love about the Maghreb and as I was wandering this pretty, little town, I was stopping frequently to admire the colorful doors, with their intricate carvings and mosaics.

The medina, with its warren of tiny streets, is so much fun to wander. Many of the buildings are crumbling, but there’s still an elegance to the former commercial hub of trade.

And the history lover in me loves this atmosphere of faded elegance and splendor and riches from eras long past that you feel so acutely as you’re wandering around the medina.

While we were there, the walls were being renovated, and should open again to the public in 3-4 months’ time. That will make for pretty views over the medina and to the ocean at the city’s edge.

But for me, just being lost in the atmosphere of this picturesque town was fun, and seeing these pretty doors scattered throughout the city was a treat.

Would love these touches of color, with their exotic flair, back home.

But since my visit to Essaouira was far too short (it merits much longer than a day trip), I know I’ll be making my way back here to spend more time in this pretty, seaside city.

And I know that when I’m back, I’ll have even more time to admire the wonderful doors of Essaouira.

For more Morocco tips, see my earlier posts on seaside Agadir  and the beautiful city of Marrakech.