Think of Morocco - "picture the ruins"!

"When you think of Morocco you immediately picture the ruins, the sandy beach, the camels and the traditional houses. It’s true that this is how most of that area looks like, but there are modern adaptations too. Take for example this spacious house. It’s located close to Sidi Kaouk’s long sandy beach and the surrounding landscape is full of history." - Homedit.com

Believe it or not, but that quote is from a reasonably professional looking design and architecture website. When a colleague brought it to our attention we decided to have a look and decided it was worth sharing. And, for the record, we don't "immediately picture the ruins" when we think of Morocco!

"rather traditional furniture"

The house, with furniture oddly described as "rather traditional but with a modern twist" is situated at Sidi Kaouki, just 27 kilometres south of Essaouira. It has established itself as one of the top windsurfing and surfing venues in Africa and now boasts some pretty decent accommodation. You can see more pics of the house here: HOUSE

See The View from Fez Postcard from Sidi Kaouki here.

The View from Fez "Postcards" - snapshots from around Morocco - are all here: POSTCARDS FROM MOROCCO

Postcard from Sidi Kaouki - surfer's paradise

The View from Fez has just visited Sidi Kaouki, a small village some 25km south of Essaouira, on a 5km-long sandy beach.

If you like long walks on the beach, horseriding or camel riding, this is a great place for a few days. The exposed beach gets plenty of wind, though - there's even a wind farm a couple of kilometres north of the village.

Sidi Kaouki himself, after whom the village is named, is buried in a marabout on the rocks (pictured above). He was a saint who lived in the late 19th century and was known for his healing powers. Pilgrims like to visit his shrine. Behind the village are forests of argane, mimosa and juniper.

Surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing are all hugely popular. There's an exposed beach break that has quite reliable surf and can work at any time of the year. Offshore winds blow from the south. It tends to receive a mix of groundswells and windswells and the ideal swell direction is from the northwest. The beach breaks offer lefts and rights. The quality of the surf isn't affected by the tide. Even when there are waves, it's not likely to be crowded and it's good for experienced surfers as well as beginners, though you should watch out for rocks.

The Auberge de la Plage was recommended as a good place to stay, and that it certainly was. Delightfully rustic with a terrace ideal for watching the sun set as well as a shady garden, it was perfect as a quiet getaway. Fishermen bring their catch to the door, so the fish is always fresh and well-cooked. At the nearby Surfcenter, you can rent boards and equipment, and opt for lessons from qualified instructors. There's also a restaurant and bar.

Now we're so laid back, we're in danger of falling off our surfboards.

See all The View from Fez POSTCARDS HERE.