Saturday 24 September 2016

Essaouira, Autumn Sunshine in Morocco

Essaouira Fishing Harbour ©Solange Hando


In the luminous bay of Mogador, an easy drive from Marrakech, Essaouira greets you with a pretty blue harbour and 18th century fortifications glowing honey-coloured under the African sun. It is all part of a World Heritage site celebrating this ancient trading post.

The trade winds from the Atlantic once brought merchants and sailors from far and wide and today they delight savvy visitors. They come to relax on the sweeping sands and enjoy some of the best wind and kite surfing along the coast. 



Essaouira Colourful Souk ©Solange Hando


Once a hippies' favourite, Essaouira is a sleepy little place these days except during the annual Gnaoua World Music Festival when the whole town vibrates to African beats.

Meanwhile, winter or summer, this sunny resort offers some of the best bargains around with almost no hassle at all. Best buys include rugs, wall hangings, traditional lamps and ceramics, thuya wood carvings and argan oil cosmetics. You can see the thorny argan trees on the road to Marrakech where goats clamber up the branches to feast on the precious nuts. 



Quiet Corner in the Medina (Old Town) ©Solange Hando

But most of all, Essaouira is a relaxed sort of place and just steps away from the stalls, there are plenty of quiet corners and alleyways where blue mosaics glisten here and there and craftsmen and artisans pursue their trade away from prying eyes.



Spices in Essaouira ©Solange Hando


By lunch time, the tantalising fragrance of Morrocan tagine drifts across the lanes and you may well be tempted to head back to the stalls and look for the best spices to take home.

They are surprisingly affordable, beautifully presented, and scent and colour are hard to resist. Bargaining is usual but as elsewhere in Morocco, be fair and know when to stop.



 Fish Restaurants ©Solange Hando


Between park and harbour, these blue and white casual venues serve an amazing array of seafood, fresh from the ocean. It's an absolute treat and one of the top attractions in Essaouira.



Time for a Siesta ©Solange Hando

Just don't expect the buzz of city life (that's down the coast in Agadir), but if you'd love a laid back holiday in the sun and a genuine Moroccan atmosphere, this little blue resort may be just right.

According to the locals, autumn is the best time to visit when the wind often dies down but temperatures remain pleasantly warm.













Saturday 10 September 2016

Like to Be a Travel Writer? Dream Job, Free Trips?

Nepal, Annapurna from Pokhara ©Solange Hando

Here's how it works
Decide where to go, find a suitable publication
Right readership, age group, budget, high circulation a bonus
Pitch to editor
Commission? Brilliant
Move to the next step.


Tobago, Dream Destination ©Solange Hando

Approach the relevant Tourist Board or their PR
Explain what you need, why, and ask if they can help
You might be invited on a group visit or offered an individual trip
How long?
Usually 2 to 4 nights depending on distance/flights

If not:
It's time for DIY
Approach hotels, airlines, railways etc. or tour operators
Before you commit:
Check exactly what is offered
and
Make sure the publication can credit your hosts
Ready to go?


Time to Write, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

Do
Remember this is a business trip, not a holiday, expect to work hard
On a group visit be prepared to compromise
Act professional at all times
Thank your hosts and send a copy of your article in due course
Keep in touch with PR, editors, writers you met

Don't
Ask for hospitality in the high season
Complain non-stop on a trip if you want to be asked again
Gossip about editors, they may hear about it
Chase commissions during a trip, any editor on a trip has work to do


Press Trip in Haute-Provence, France ©Solange Hando

Hard work? Sure
but 
Have fun
and 
Your hosts will be delighted

Now, would you like to find out more and follow your dream?
Here's everything you need to know to be a travel writer 
Good luck and enjoy