A Moroccan Hammam and Essaouira

Essaouira is where I left my heart.  It was a smaller beach town in Morocco, where we stayed for 2 nights before heading to Marrakech.  I didn't expect to love it so much, but it was a combination of becoming friends with some of the girls on my trip and the laid back vibe it had.  It was also the first place in Morocco that had a medina in grid form, rather than a never ending maze, and this put me more at ease.

Essaouira has a fairly large Jewish quarter that has many colorful and hand carved or mosaic doors.  It also as fresh seafood, crepes and gelato.  There really isn't much else I needed.  Our hotel was quiet and clean and had a beautiful mosaic sink and shower.  The hotel also fried my power adapter and electrocuted me when I tried my replacement adapter, but in the end I got it working with a different outlet.  

The temperatures were a lovely 25 degrees, cooling even further in the evenings with the ocean breeze and the bar we went to 2 nights (Taros) offered ponchos for guests to wear on the patio to keep warm.  We heard traditional music and enjoyed perusing the markets and watching the sunsets.

Essouira is also where I decided to try a Moroccan Hammam.  This consists of being scrubbed down using an argan oil scrub and an exfoliating mitt, while sitting in a sauna.  At least, this is how it was pitched to us.  Vicky and I booked our slots together so we could go to the Hammam.  When we arrived, we were informed by 2 other people in our group that you were to strip down and go into the sauna together.  They had been put into the sauna just before us, with 2 other members (a mother and daughter duo).  We had warning which made it less shocking, but when you get into the sauna you are asked to lay down foot to foot on a tiny bench.  Just as I laid down, I was splashed (with zero warning or explanation) with lukewarm water.  My body parts were then lathered up with an oily soap by a Moroccan lady, EVERY PART (I say this, as my underwear were pulled down while I laid there, without a word being said).  When it came time to flip over, the lady just tapped my arm and clicked her tongue.  I slipped over to the other side, like a greased seal and tried to zone out as my backside was assaulted in the same way.  Next, they made us lay there face down in a boiling room as we sweated the oily soap off our bodies.  Finally, they came in again with an exfoliating mitt and scrubbed every nook and cranny.  At the end, they made me stand up, where again, I was suddenly splashed with water to rinse off, and my soggy underwear were hiked up way farther than I even knew I could wear them.  Last, but not least, the woman lifted each of my boobs one at a time, and rinsed under them as well.  At least they were thorough.  In the end, we were ushered into a small massage room to get re-dressed and given one plastic bag (to share between the 2 of us) for our soggy underpants.  Needless to say, it was a bonding experience for everyone who attended.