Every tourist I met while traveling in Morocco, and particularly those who had just been in Marrakech, raved about their few days in Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic coast. That's because Essaouira is just a great place to relax. It has a nice medina (old walled part of town) which is cleaner, less crowded and less noisy than in Marrakech or Fes. It's a perfect place to shop and bargain for tourist trinkets, carpets, lamps and pottery. Essaouira's medina is also small enough that you won't get lost, so a guide isn't necessary.

There are plenty of cozy Riad's (traditional houses converted to boutique hotels) and some excellent seafood restaurants. Essaouira is a working port and part of the joy of visiting is watching the fishermen bring in the catch of the day. The ramparts that protect the town from the sea are quite beautiful and make for a perfect sunset stroll. It's not surprising that more and more French expatriates are calling this place home.

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