Day 19 - Our day did not begin with any particular urgency. We simply slept in. At a highly civilized 9:00 AM, we hiked upstairs for a spectacular buffet breakfast that boasted arguably the best coastal view in town. A thick pane of glass was all that separated our refined pastries from the relentless wind whipping off the Atlantic. Finally, we found a place that absolutely nailed every single Moroccan breakfast specialty. They did it with pure class.
Suitably fortified, we hit the streets to properly map the medina. We found the central mosque and walked straight toward the sea. Naturally, this deposited us right at the Supra Tours bus station where we had arrived yesterday. Then, reality hit. We discovered they do not run buses to Agadir. That southern coastal city has always been part of our grand master plan. Realizing our go-to bus company just abandons its passengers on the coast meant we had to pivot quickly.
We briefly considered a day trip. Basic math crushed that dream instantly. It is a three-hour drive there. It is another three hours back. Six hours staring at highway tarmac is not a vacation. We asked the hotel about a private driver, but the price tag was absurd. Plus, the sheer exhaustion made it a terrible idea. The day trip concept was axed without a second thought.
Instead, we sat down and ironed out the exact timeline for the rest of our Moroccan adventure. We are staying put. After tonight, we will hold our ground here in the medina for two more days. Our hotel is pressed right up against the historic sea wall, known as the Skala de la Ville. Back in the 18th century, a sultan hired a French military architect to build these massive stone ramparts to fend off sea invasions. Today, they are lined with vintage European brass cannons still stubbornly pointing at the ocean. It makes for a brilliantly dramatic home base.
Once we finally break camp, we will slide down the coast to Agadir for a three-night traditional beach holiday. The grand finale journey back to Casablanca will require a one-night transit stop in Marrakech. From there, we will catch the high-speed rail connection and position ourselves in our departure city for the final nights of the 22nd and 23rd. The logistical puzzle is officially solved.
