4 Unforgettable days in Africa 

AFRICA - MOROCCO - AGADIR - SURF TOWN TAMRAGHT! SUNSET FROM THE BACK OF A CAMEL - SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN IN DECEMBER - ADRENALINE-FUELED QUAD BIKE RIDE - HIKING AND SWIMMING IN THE LOCAL MOUNTAINS ?! DISCOVERING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CULTURE AND MUCH MORE FOR ONLY €200 PER PERSON! READ HOW!!!

What do you need to know about the Land of the Setting Sun before your trip?

1. Street Dogs and Cats: Everywhere in Agadir, you will encounter street dogs and cats. It might happen that a dog will follow you for a while, but don't worry, they are harmless. Sometimes, dogs will fight among themselves. The street cats, on the other hand, can be extremely annoying, with some even trying to get into your plate.

   Water: In Africa, THERE IS NO DRINKING WATER from the tap. The water contains bacteria that our

2.  Fake "Guides": It's very common (especially if it's obvious that you're not a local) for people on the street to greet you and offer to lead you somewhere or give you directions. If someone offers to help or even guide you to your destination, know that they will ask for money for this unwanted service. Several times, we encountered locals suddenly appearing in our path, persistently calling us to follow them. These fake guides will try to lead you to their own shop, or the on of a friend or cousin, where they expect you to buy something. 
   

3. Water: In Africa, THERE IS NO DRINKING WATER from the tap. The water contains bacteria that our stomachs cannot handle very good. While it may be drinking water for locals, it is DEFINITELY NOT for us. If you don't want to spend a day in the bathroom or, worse, in the hospital, DO NOT DRINK IT! Buy bottled water in stores, and we even recommend using it if you're cooking for yourself or brushing your teeth. Boiling tap water is not enough. 

4. Food: Be careful with FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Again, because of the water, that is used to wash them, eating the vegetable anf fruit can be risky for us. In restaurants, we recommend sticking to cooked meals. AVOID BUYING FOOD from the market. This advice came from a local who also avoids buying food from the market due to poor hygiene conditions, which even cause him digestive issues. 
   

5. Transport: Traffic here is crazy, with vehicles often mingling with people and animals. Even though it may seem impossible to cross the road, you will manage – just be careful and watch how the locals do it. Buses operate here (not very reliably, but 1 out of 3 will surely come), and tickets can be bought from the driver for about €0.75. As for taxis, the yellow ones are the most reliable, and of course, you will need to haggle for the price. 
   

6. Photography and Filming: If you own a drone and plan to capture Africa's beauty, unfortunately, you'll be disappointed. Filming with drones is strictly forbidden in Morocco! For taking pictures and videos, it's allowed until you aim your camera at official, government, or state buildings – taking any photos or videos of such places is strictly prohibited! 
   

7. Bargaining and Prices: Yes, Africa is cheaper than Europe, but not so much for Europeans or other tourists, who are recognisably not locals. There are very few shops with fixed prices here, only in the most touristic areas (where prices are already high) or in large shopping centers. In most cases, you will have to haggle, and the color of your skin might make it harder. We had a chance to compare, as we made a friend from Morocco, and he was offered half the price from the start compared to what we were offered. Nevertheless, it's still cheaper than Europe – just don't agree to the first, second, or even third offer from the seller. Try to hold out until the fourth offer, or pretend you're walking away. 
   

8. Clothing for WOMEN! You will definitely want to pack clothes that don't show too much skin – t-shirts covering your shoulders and skirts or pants below the knees. I know it sounds dreadful, and no one will arrest or scold you if you wear normal summer clothes like in most of the other countries, but trust me, it's for your own comfort to avoid uncomfortable stares from the locals. If you plan to visit a mosque, you must cover your shoulders, knees, and hair. It's also important to check beforehand if the mosque you wish to visit allows women, as some mosques completely prohibit women from entering.

9. Alcohol: Morocco is a Muslim country, and therefore, drinking alcohol in public is strictly prohibited ! Alcohol is sold in specialized shops, mostly found in tourist resorts.
   

10. Public Displays of Affection: Holding hands, hugging, and kissing – such displays of affection, which are common for us, are not usual in public here and should be kept to a minimum.

11. Tourist Police: To increase safety, there is a tourist police force in Morocco. They can be found almost everywhere and are distinguished from regular police by their uniforms. This police helps tourists with everyday tasks and ensures that locals treat tourists respectfully. 
    

12. Restrooms: Agadir is tourist-friendly, so there's no need to worry about restrooms. Everywhere we went, there were English-style (Western) toilets available.
    

13. People with Disabilities: While we've all seen people with disabilities, in Morocco, you will encounter people with various disabilities much more frequently. 
    

14. Airport: After arrival, the police will automatically provide you with a temporary visa and ask you 2-3 questions: Why are you visiting the country, how long will you stay, and where will you be staying. On your return trip, you'll need a PRINTED TICKET!!!   It is NOT enough to show your ticket on your phone!

When it is the cheapest to visit Morocco and how to

 get there ? 

We're traveling to Morocco for St. Nicholas Day! We got round-trip tickets for €39 thanks to a canceled flight to Jordan. We're setting off at 3 AM from Einsteinova in Bratislava, where a bus will take us directly to the airport in Vienna. Slightly encouraged by some beer, we board the plane. All around us, we can hear Slovak, Czech, and German. The flight from Vienna to Agadir lasts 3 hours and 50 minutes, which is super short considering we're leaving the continent and heading to Africa. We scored a window seat. 

The journey is beautiful. The best part is flying over Gibraltar, where at one moment you can see both Europe and Africa. I'll tell you! It looks exactly like it does on a globe or map. Below us, cargo ships are everywhere. The coastline of Africa looks like it was cut with scissors – incredibly straight. 

We land. It's not as warm at the airport as we expected. No worries, we brought our winter jackets, as it was -3 degrees in Vienna. There's no time difference in Agadir, so we arrive at 9:00 AM, and it's just starting to warm up.

What not to do in the airport and how to get from the airport to city centre ? 

We decided that in Agadir we would travel adventurously – without mobile data. Although we had some doubts at the airport, where everyone was buying SIM cards (NEVER BUY SIM CARDS – THEY'RE FREE, and you can choose how much credit to load on them), we resisted. We exchanged only a small amount of money at the currency exchange, as the airport rates are the worst possible. Feeling rich with Moroccan dirhams (1 euro = approx. 10 dirhams), we headed for the bus stop. 

We were the only ones to make it there, as the taxi drivers had already made everyone else to use this kind of transport, but as I mentioned earlier, we're looking for adventure and we want to experience the local country with local people, not the touristy atmosphere. On the way to the stop, two begging children ran up to us. After about 10 minutes, we reached the bus stop – don't expect any shelter to sit under, or a sign showing the bus schedule. Were you expecting an electronic board? Haha… Althought, there was something written, but in their own Arabic script, but also that was crossed out (we joked that the taxi drivers crossed it out so no one would take the bus, not even the locals, just taxis). Another taxi driver tried to lure us in, and we replied in English, "No thank you." That's when a guy sitting in the taxi asked,

 "Where are you from?"

"Slovakia "– we answered. 

"Okay, that´s great, we understand each other, come with us". - he answered in slovak.

"How much do you pay for the taxi ? " - we asked in slovak.

 "We gave hime 50 dirhams per a person." - he answered in slovak.

"Hm,no thanks. " - we answered in Slovak. 

(The bus was supposed to cost us around 70 cents, which is about 7 dirhams). The taxi driver noticed something was off and quickly started offering us a "cheap" ride.

"Okay, how much?" we asked, and the taxi driver responded:

"100 dirhams per person."

Bargaining is not really my thing, but offering us a higher price after he just spoke to the people he was already carrying wasn't the smartest move, or maybe he thought we were just having small talk… Who knows?

"No, thank you!" we said.

"Okay, okay, 50," he offered.

"No, thank you," we repeated.

The taxi driver slammed on the gas and, together with our fellow Slovak travelers, sped off into the unknown. We stayed at the bus stop with screenshots of the bus schedules we had found using the airport's Wi-Fi. A local man with a crippled leg was standing nearby. We started to get a little anxious, as this was the second bus that was supposed to come but hadn't. 

Then, off in the distance, we saw another traveler who was talking to the man with the crippled leg, in a language we didn't understand. It wasn't French, so it had to be Arabic. In Morocco, since it's a former French colony, you can also communicate in French, but their official language is only Arabic. The traveler glanced at us occasionally, and we looked back at him too, until finally we decided to approach him. 

Jackpot ! Or as we say in pure Eastern Slovak, TA PARADZINA. Yasin! We had only been in Morocco for a short while and had already met a local – well, he doesn't live in Africa anymore, but in Vienna, and he speaks Arabic and obviously understands everything much better than we do. Finding a free guide – DONE. Just kidding. Yasin told us that the man with the crippled leg had said the bus should arrive soon. 

Then two more people arrived at the stop – they were as pale as vampires. (These must be Slovaks too! I thought to myself). The first one to speak to us was a girl (in English, of course), and we told her that the bus was coming. Then the guy started talking. Oh, from the start it was clear that this guy's mouth wouldn't shut. A tall, typical European-looking guy started talking as if he were giving a lecture, and we were his students. Then he asked us "Where are you from?"

"From Slovakia," I replied, and he said, "Oh, well, then we understand each other, we can speak our language." (Oh, great, I thought). It turned out that the girl was also from the Czech Republic. Wonderful! Now we're a five-person crew. The bus still didn't come. We saw one pass by in the opposite direction, and apparently, it was supposed to turn around (according to the guy with the crippled leg) and come back for us, but that didn't happen.

 Another taxi stopped, and Yasin started negotiating. He bargained it down to 16 dirhams (€1.60) per person. From Agadir Al-Massira International Airport, where we landed, to the center of Agadir, which is 25 km away (about 40 minutes), this was a very good price. Well, alright, I reluctantly agreed, even though I had imagined taking a bus full of locals and chickens, ha ha. 

The Czech guy's mouth still wouldn't shut. He was bubbling over with ideas about how to travel, what we should do, what we shouldn't do, and how he couldn't understand why we were staying such a short time. And on and on he went. But the best advice he gave us was how to avoid beach vendors. So, readers, I'm not selfish or secretive, and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I didn't share this valuable tip with you. Read carefully!

"When a beach seller passes by, act like you don't see him and move to the opposite side, stare at the ground, and if by chance, despite this cunning method, they still stop you and try to sell you something (because you'll be the millionth person trying to avoid them this way), DON'T CARRY ANYTHING in your front pockets and show them that your POCKETS ARE EMPTY. THAT'S IT!"

Grateful and enlightened, we arrived at our destination. Towering over the city of Agadir were huge walls, and all around us was the hustle and bustle of the city. Not just any ordinary city, but an AFRICAN CITY. We exchanged contacts with everyone except for that know-it-all guy. We got out of the yellow taxi (by the way, they say those are the most stable and fair in Agadir). Our crew went to grab a coffee together, but we politely declined. We couldn't wait to explore Agadir, and we also couldn't stand listening to the know-it-all guy's chatter any longer.

Visiting the largest covered market in Africa and our first embarassing experience with  Bargaining 

 We set off… umm… in the direction… followin nose. It was only a quarter of the way that we realized my "by nose" didn't match Marcel's "by nose." Let me explain. My "by nose" was towards the Oufella castle, while Marcel's "by nose" was towards the largest covered market in Africa, Souk El Had. Well, this time, Marcel's nose won; we were headed to the traditional market. Besides the fact that he won because of patriarchy (just a joke), he also won because it would take ONLY 3 hours to get to the castle and as much as 20 minutes to the market.

Now, when you visit a market like this for the first time, believe me, it's a big shock. I expected something like this, but the reality surprised me even more. Vegetables displayed in enormous quantities, spices, kitchen utensils, electronics, jewelry, clothes – everything in one place. One stall after another. Vendors/Sellers stop you at every turn, offering their finest goods. One young man managed to catch us. He was selling various spices that we don't have back in Slovakia. That's when we realized that bargaining was not really our strong suit, and we left with empty hands while he remained all annoyed and probably cursing (in Arabic).

How does the public transport works or why knocking on  the ceiling is needed when you are using buses in Agadir !

Since it was after 2 PM we decided to head to our hotel, which was in the surfers' town of Tamraght, about 17 km away from Agadir. And so, we finally got to experience the bus ride. We started from the bus stop: Mouquaouama Sud Inbiaat, Agadir 80000, Morocco. It was a busy stop with lots of people. There was even a small stall selling cookies. About two buses that were supposed to arrive never showed up, but the third one finally arrived: L32/33 heading to Taghazout Village. We bought our ticket directly from the driver, which cost us 7.50 MAD = approximately €0.75.

On our very first journey, we encountered ticket inspectors. The ride was beautiful, with views of the coast, the ocean, and above us stood the Oufella castle! We carefully followed our route on Google Maps as we got closer to our stop—Cimetiere Tamraght, the nearest one to our accommodation.

We panicked a little and got off one stop early. No worries, it only added about 5 minutes to our walk. Don't expect any announcements for stops, or for the bus to stop at every stop, or even a button to signal for the driver to let you off. Here, the signal to get off is given by knocking on the bus ceiling. This is the clear signal for the driver that you are getting off.

From the stop, a narrow uphill path leads (about 15 minutes) past a mosque, a mini shops, and small restaurants, continuing along a dirt road with unfinished houses (in which people actually live, but you mostly don't see them during the day, only in the evening when it gets cooler), through a dump, all the way to the very end of the road to our "hotel," rather a large house called CasaNostra  https://www.booking.com/Share-jNsvbmk ,costing around €15/night for 2 people. The entrance is on the first floor ! NOT on the GROUND FLOOR. We managed to walk straight into the kitchen of a local family. No worries, they were very nice, even though they didn't speak English; they showed us upstairs and called our host.

Accomandation and beginer´s mistake in the restaurant !

This accommodation had a great surfer vibe. We enjoyed our stay there for a very low price! It was a true Moroccan experience ! The view was perfect! On one side of the spacious terrace, you can see the ocean where the sun sets, and on the other side, there are mountains. The terrace is furnished with sofas, a table, and chairs, so you can spend a comfortable time there. The bathroom is shared, but mostly clean. There is a kitchen available for your use. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and kind. The room is very small; it only has a bed plus one small table, and you can hear everything from the neighboring room.

After a short break, we decided to explore the area and grab something to eat. We headed down the hill we had come from. After about 5 minutes, we sat down at the KISSLAZ eatery. I immediately made a beginner's mistake by ordering a salad, while Marcel went for baked pasta. The meal cost us about 50 MAD per person, which is €5 each. We rate it as average; it wasn't disgusting, but it also didn't impress us. 

After lunch, we bought food for dinner at the Mini Market Mohamed Tamraght across the street, and since it was getting late, we returned to our accommodation. In this small shop, we bought their traditional bread, hobz/kesra. It's a flat, round bread often used instead of cutlery to scoop up food. We also bought cheese—yes, you read that right, they sell "Veselá krava" cheese here—along with water, chips, and something like ham, and of course, WATER! This shopping  cost us about 60 MAD, which is €6.

On our way back, we heard the call for praying from the mosque several times. It sounds quite unpleasant, so don't be alarmed. It's estimated that the calls to prayer echo from the mosque every 2 hours. By the time we were returning, it was dark, and the mosque was illuminated (in colors similar to a carnival), with children playing outside near the houses. In general, there were more people on the streets than during the hot hours of the day.

So, the first day in Africa is behind us. Fortunately, we didn't have any stomach issues, but I assume that at least for me, most of the job, in this issues, was prevented by Smecta and the 40% alcohol we decided to "burn off the little worms" with every evening . Now we can sleep peacefully because tomorrow  we plan to go swimming to the ocean in December and also our first Moroccan activity. 

Followed by a street dog to most lively beach we have ever been to ! 

Next morning, we are heading for the beach - Plage d'Agadir. It's about a 20-minute walk from our hotel. We pass through the main road, National Rte 1, next to a huge resort, and finally reach the vast sandy beach. A cute street dog accompanies us throughout the journey. This beach is exceptional. Horses and camels run around, children play football, and beginner surfers are learning to surf in the ocean - WOW! It truly is a beach full of life.

We step into the ocean. To be honest, it's quite cold, but we still swim for a while. Afterward, we take a walk along the shore and find a cliff to climb. All around it, there are women gathering something (probably shells or seaweed, we're not sure). There's also a so-called tourist police at the entrance to the beach. Yes, as the name suggests, this police force primarily ensures our safety, so we can feel comfortable here in Africa.

After a few minutes, a black minibus pulled up beside us. We got in, and the driver took us to a spot where about 15 camels were gathered. For a moment, we stood there confused, as no one seemed to be paying us any attention. Then, a 60-year-old Moroccan man in traditional attire waved at us. He wore a djellaba, a long, loose robe with a hood and long sleeves, often made from wool, cotton, or other natural materials. On his head was a traditional fez (turban or tarboosh). The fez is a red felt hat with a flat top and a black tassel on top. The man had a long beard, making it difficult to see his face.

He waved at us, and I approached the camel. The raei al-jamal (camel herder in Arabic) signaled to the camel, and it awkwardly lowered itself to the ground. He then gestured for me to climb onto it. The camel had a saddle and a handle in the front. It wasn't exactly easy to get on, but it was manageable. Once I was securely seated, the raei al-jamal signaled to the camel again, and it stood up. That was a shock! Yes, you can see how tall a camel is, but sitting on one is a completely different experience. We were genuinely scared at first.

The camel herders tightly tied our camels together (the head of one camel was right at the ass of the one in front) and we started to slowly move in a line towards the river, where supposedly the most beautiful sunsets are. Riding the camel was comfortable, but they walk quite clumsily, tripping over their own feet and completely oblivious to what's under them! Thankfully, we didn't fall off even once, so I suppose they know what they're doing.

We passed through a "Moroccan forest" alongside government buildings that had huge grounds, were fenced in, and had a guard stationed every 20 meters. Some of the buildings looked like they were straight out of a Minecraft game. We finally reached the river—Oued Sous—and found ourselves disappointed. There were tons of cars, people, and now a lot of camels as well. Our camel herder took a rather clumsy photo of us before we turned back.

When we felt uneasy about getting onto the camel, we had no idea how uncomfortable it would be to get off. The camel herder showed us to sit further back and to hold on tight, and let me tell you, that was really necessary. Phew, but we managed it! Our camel herder, who hadn't smiled once the whole time, barely spoke English, and took unusable photos, began to ask for a tip. No way! We bypassed him and headed for some Moroccan tea at a local teahouse, which was included in the price.

While we were there, another guide joined us for a chat and offered us additional activities in Morocco. We told him we had already booked ATVs for the next day, and he mentioned he could take us for half the price we had agreed upon.

We rate this activity more negatively than positively. The camels looked quite miserable and tired, and it's no wonder considering how they were treated. The guides accompanying us didn't speak English and hardly paid us any attention. The place we went to for the sunset was overcrowded and overall not a pleasant location. However, riding a camel is an experience you shouldn't miss while visiting  Africa.

If you have more time for your trip to Africa, we recommend booking just one activity through sites like GetYourGuide or Viator, and arrange the rest with the locals. This way, you support them and save some money.

After enjoying a delicious Moroccan tea, our driver took us to the bus stop, even though he didn't have to, but he was kind and caring enough to do so since apparently, it was the last bus to Tamraght—something we hadn't realized. On about the fourth stop, young football players got on, and this was the bus ride we had envisioned when we arrived. The bus was packed, noisy, and once again full of life. As usual, we signaled for our stop by knocking on the bus ceiling, and we had to literally "squeeze" our way out.

After a day full of African experiences, we sat on the terrace, absorbing everything we had encountered. We only had Wi-Fi there, so we contacted our guide, who was supposed to pick us up on the main road by the pharmacy at 10:00.

We forgot to close the door to our room, and had to shoo a cat out from inside. Goodnight!

The best breakfast in Tamraght, swimming in freezing water and adrenaline - pumping activity in the end 

In the morning, we started a bit earlier and stopped for breakfast. As a general rule, and this applies to all countries, always choose a place where the locals eat. Zaz Restaurant was an excellent choice for breakfast. They offer a Moroccan breakfast menu. Be sure to stop by and try it!

We were a bit stressed as we waited for our ride at the agreed-upon spot. The stress came from not being sure if we were indeed at the right place; we had no internet and couldn't check if our guide had tried to contact us. It was already 10 minutes past the time we were supposed to be picked up. This last part worried us the least, given the relaxed lifestyle of the locals.

Several minibusses passed by until finally, one stopped. The driver asked for our name, and we were able to hop in.

This ride was unforgettable. We got into an already full minibus—we were the last ones—and since our driver needed to go in the opposite direction, he simply turned around and drove about 500 meters on the edge of the road against traffic. Then he crossed through an entire intersection and got back into the right lane. And just like that, we were heading into the Agadir mountains.

On the way to Paradise Valley, we stopped at a shop owned by our guide's friend for coffee, where we could purchase various homemade products. Our next stop was at a botanical garden, where we could see different flora typical of Africa. This tour ended at a shop selling local products, where we had the opportunity to see how argan oil is made.

 The saleswomen seated us, explained the benefits of their products, and let us test various oils, creams, soaps, and we even tasted different types of honey. Of course, tea was also served. The honey was very delicious, and the products seemed genuinely high-quality; however, we weren't interested in spending money. This was the last chance to use the restroom. The toilets here are English-style, meaning the Western type, but there are also Turkish toilets. Everywhere we went, we didn't have any trouble finding the English-style toilets.

After the tour, we began going higher into the mountains; the road narrows, and we gradually reach a dirt road. Paradise Valley, a valley in the Atlas Mountains, is located about 20-30 km north of Agadir. We passed through palm groves, a drying palm oasis, rocky pools with crystal-clear water (which the Berbers use as a spa), and Berber houses made of clay and stone. 

In this area, the population is mostly Berbers — the indigenous people of Africa, who have a rich and ancient culture. Many villages in the mountains still maintain their traditional way of life and language (Berber). We had the opportunity to experience this authentic Moroccan culture.

The higher we went, the more poverty (poorness) we felt. Local residents — mostly children and beggars—chased our minibus, and our driver obviously knew them well, sharing various stories about them (the death of a mother, the death of a child, poverty, hunger). He handed out cookies, bread, and candies to the children through the window, and we gradually joined in. Eventually, we arrived at a house, and the guide ordered us to get out.

We had swimsuits and towels in our backpacks. We got out but left our backpacks in the car. It didn't occur to us that the real adventure was just beginning and that we were finally moving into Paradise Valley.

Right at the beginning of this trek, a stray dog joined us, which our guide fed throughout the journey. Guide talked to us about nature and culture, making various jokes to keep us entertained along the way. Three older ladies who joined us stayed nearby at a Berber home where they were preparing lunch for them. On the way, our guide asked who would jump into the water first when we reached our destination. Marcel shouted, "ME, I will!" and so it was.

After about 40 minutes of walking through the beautiful nature of the Atlas Mountains, we arrived at a place where water flowed—the Tamraght River—a mini canyon. Thank goodness we had put on our swimsuits in the morning, so we could go for a swim, even though our backpacks stayed in the minibus. 

The height of the rocks lining the river varied. Our guide called Marcel to jump from a rock about 5 meters high, and we all encouraged him to do the jump. With the support of his fan club, Marcel jumped. It was quite brave since the canyon wasn't that wide. Besides him, only one other person jumped as well. After a bit of self-persuasion, I decided to get into the water too. It was freezing cold, probably around 18 degrees in December. It was a refreshing experience in such a beautiful surrounding.

We made the return journey wet since our towels and change of clothes were bravely left in the minibus. On the way back, we stopped for tea, served by a Berber along with traditional tea pastries. The tea was delicious—made with a root called cobra, which is supposedly beneficial for men (it promotes erections). It was very pleasant to enjoy authentic Moroccan tea in this cheerful group of people and such a beautiful environment. The cost of this activity was €15 per person, lasting around 6 hours.

After returning from the Atlas Mountains, we had a few hours to explore Agadir before our next activity—quad biking. Our guide kindly took us to Agadir Medina, the historical part of the city that offers visitors a glimpse into traditional culture and architecture. There are narrow alleys, charming squares, and colorful houses. Berber culture and Islam are reflected here. Various markets with local products—ceramics, textiles, jewelry, spices—can be found, but everything here is quite expensive, so we do not recommend shopping here. Entrance to the Medina also has a fee of around 40 dirhams (€4) per person. This place is definitely worth a visit.

After visiting the Medina, we walked to the local beach. Although the beautiful promenade—Rue La Plage—was nice, we were glad to be staying in Tamraght, as this area felt too touristy. Locals recommended a restaurant that was good and affordable. We can't remember the name, but it's located right on the promenade and has blue chairs and umbrellas. We really enjoyed the food there. The atmosphere was lively and energetic, with a local musician playing music next to our table. After lunch, we hurried back to the hotel, where we were supposed to be picked up for our next activity. 

Our guide picked us up along with another tour participant—a British woman. After a short drive, we arrived at the garage with the quad bikes. We put on our oversized helmets, and after a brief set of instructions, we started our machines and set off for the best activity in Agadir. You can book this adrenaline-pumping experience here!

Hunting Culture and History  - having the best view of Agadir

In the evening, we met up with Yasin (a friend we met on our first day) and headed to the Oufella Castle, beneath which is huge inscription in Arabic : "God, Nation, King." You can get there in three ways: on foot (about a one-hour uphill walk), by cable car (95 MAD = €9 for a round trip), or by bus (10 MAD = €1 for a one-way ticket). The journey up by bus was once again fun, as the locals played music loudly and sang along. The castle was beautifully lit, featuring a large stone courtyard with a camel and a donkey. Be careful—local merchants may offer to let you take a photo with the camel for free, but of course, it's not really free, and they won't let you leave, by keeping you sitting on the camel, until you pay. The view from the castle overlooks the entire city and the stunning coastline. Entrance to the castle is free!

After climbing the castle, we headed back to the tourist area (where we had been during the day) and sat down for a beer. Here, they serve beer, but it's more expensive. We sat at Restaurant Le Nil Bleu. There are several similar bars and restaurants, so you can choose any of them.

Extremely Shocking situation with Tourist policeman ! 

Then something quite strange happened to us during this evening. We told Yasin that we wanted to go home. We headed towards the main road, where a policeman was standing. Yasin approached him, explained something in Arabic, and pointed at us. The next thing we knew, the policeman stepped into the road and stopped a taxi driver, said something to him, and then called us over. Yasin told us, "This policeman is here for you, the tourists. He told the taxi driver that he MUST take you. I'll try to negotiate a price for you." It was a really strange feeling that we caused such a "scene" just because we wanted to go home. We paid the taxi driver about 75 MAD, which is €7, and still in shock, we headed to our accommodation. That's how our last evening in Agadir looked.

The whole lunch only for 3 € in the crazies African Markets 

The next day, Yasin promised to take us to the REAL African markets, not the ones we had seen. We met up and headed to Souk de Mardi. It was crazy there—unbelievably many cars and an incredible number of people. Everywhere were stalls. Everyone was shouting, cars were honking, street beggars and vendors stopped us, calling us to their shops—just an enormous chaotic scene!

Yasin took us to one of the restaurants, where we had drinks and a full plate of fish for €3. We then walked through various narrow streets that you could enter from the main road, giving you the impression that only one shop could fit in there, oh how wrong we were! After passing through a short corridor, we found ourselves in a DIFFERENT WORLD —suddenly, dozens of shops appeared! They sold clothing, watches, phones, rice—everything! We bought eucalyptus in crystal form for easier breathing, spices, clothes, and Moroccan Nutella.

Now we felt like we had experienced everything! Thank you, Agadir; it's time to go home!

Yasin had some other plans, and we decided to walk around the city a bit. I also got a henna tattoo from a local. It was a beautiful tattoo with various designs and my name written in Arabic. The cost was €10, which later Yasin teased us about, saying we should have given her a maximum of €3 or bought a set of stencils for €1 and done it ourselves at home. Well, it doesn't matter; at least I got a natural henna tattoo! BROWN henna! If you want henna, only go for brown! Other colors contain harmful chemicals.

The taxi driver took our sunglasess  ! 

We wanted to take the bus to the airport. The locals informed us that it was very far, and at that time of day, there would be traffic jams, risking us getting stuck somewhere. Not wanting to risk missing our flight, we stopped a taxi. The driver informed us that he would take us for 200 MAD = €20. We didn't have that much left. This taxi driver left. We stopped  another one, and long hesitating, he passively agressive took us for 100 MAD = €10. I'm not kidding; that's all we had left. When we arrived at the airport, the driver refused to let us out of the car, claiming we were giving him too little money, and that it would only cover his gas expenses. We kept repeating that we had a deal. The driver asked for our sunglasses, which we eventually gave him because we really needed to go.

We arrived at the airport, where strict security checks were in place, and you had to have your boarding pass PRINTED! 

About  any questions, or comments about this article,  please don´t hesitate to contact us and do not forget to check the videos on our Instagram @duotravel_monkeys , so you can visualise this trip even better. We will be looking forward to your next visit and also for your feedback ! THANK YOU HAVE A  WONDERFUL JORNEY !