The first city I visited while studying abroad in Morocco was Essaouria, pronounced ess-way-ra, which is located on the coast a three hour bus ride from Marrakech. Before I came to Morocco, I had no idea that this lovely city existed. Essaouria is a popular travel location. Its beautiful coastline, the small city, and the weather pull Moroccans and international travelers alike to visit. Essaouira means "little picture" in Arabic and that is exactly what it feels like when you stand in the middle of the medina, or the city.

My friends and I decided to go to Essaouira for the extended break we had before classes resumed. We traveled the day of Eid ul-Fitr, the Islamic celebration after fasting the month of Ramadan. From the university, Essaouria is a six hour train ride to Marrakech and a three hour bus ride to the city. The total trip clocked in at around nine hours. I enjoyed viewing the various landscapes flying past my train window.

Once we arrived in Essaouria, we entered the old medina that was sprawling with stray cats and bustling until midnight. We stayed in a beautiful riad, a traditional Moroccan house that is typically two or more stories around a fountain. Located in the center of the city, we could see multiple shops and cafes from the roof. As a coastal city, Essaouira is on the more windy side, so it was never too hot to bask in the sun on the roof or the terrace.

Every restaurant and cafe in Essaouira was excellent. Most places offered traditional Moroccan cuisine while others had a different menu everyday depending on the local ingredients available. Moreover, being a coastal city, the menu had a plethors of fresh fish options. One thing I loved about restaurants in Morocco was that bread and olives were always complimentary.

Furthermore, the art lover in me adored the small art galleries interspersed between the shops and restaurants. Our first day in the city was spent wandering the winding cobblestone streets and strolling into any gallery we came across. It was refreshing to see African art and the different types of traditional art work. There were elaborate, heavy doors and colorful statues.

If art and food are not enticing enough, the beach and the old fort are excellent places to take photos. We walked along the beach as children played in the sand and people were wind surfing. It was too cool to warrant a quick swim. The view of the Atlantic Ocean from the top of the fort is mesmerizing as white waves crashed onto the rocks below. We took plenty of photos sitting on the fort wall and posing near the old cannons.

Our faces were plastered with sadness the afternoon we left. We wanted to extend the four days, but we had to return to the university for classes. If I ever return to visit Essaouria, I will definitely take a dip at the beach and visit the other cities nearby.