"Places to go" Sibo10's Profile

Agadir Medina restaurant

Eating and drinking delights

On any journey it is always important to find a place where one can hang out after a hard day of travel, business or shopping. A quiet park, a good hotel, (especially if, like me, your budget does not run to 5***** luxury costing hundred of hard-earned $$$), a comfortable bar or pub to rest those weary feet and some culinary delight to whet the appetite.

Then there is the excitement of discovering new places.

This is a guide to places I have been and have enjoyed for various reasons.

Mauresque Agadir

Agadir, Morocco

I've been 'stationed' here for 18 months. It's a typical seaside tourist town. A promenade, (they are extending it by 1.5 Km), hotels along the beach, a tourist district behind that, then local residential/shopping behind that.
There is not much going on but if you just need some R&R (Rest & Recharge) then it's fine. The beach is long and clean (cleaned every morning between 7 and 9), the sea cool to cold, depending on season.
Lots of places to eat serving classical Moroccan to Asian. So some tips:

Eating out:
Orange Bleue - next to the Le Central English Pub. Excellent food, friendly service, good wines, cold tap beer. Very reasonably priced. Try the filet steak in coffee-cream sauce. Happy-hour 4 - 8 pm.

Mezzo Mezzo - The best pizzas in town. Very good wine selection. Iced bottle beers; no tap beer.

Vendome - on the seafront, next to Pizza Hut. A large 'touristy' menu. Food is ok to good, (except the Pesto, give it a miss). Friendly waiters. Cold tap-beer. Wine list is ok. Very reasonably priced.
A tip for the the 'self- catering' visitors: They do a large, set breakfast, (including coffee and fresh orange juice) for 29Dhs - about Euro 2.50

Jardin d'Eau - around the corner from the Orange Bleue. An elegant, subdued(some say dark) restaurant with a goldfish pond in the middle Serves a large selection of traditional Moroccan cuisine. Try one of the Tajine dishes, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajine )

Mauresque - on the corner near the Casino Atlantic. Really excellent cuisine. Very elegant decore. 'Theme' evenings Thursday, Saturday. A bit more expensive but the service and tastes compensate. Very good wine-list. Cold tap-beer. Happy-hour (50%) 4 - 7 pm.
Tip: There is a Group Menu that the Maitre'd will try to get you to order. Don't! It's much to big to finish and more expensive than ordering the same items seperately.

Sam's Fish Restaurant

Essaouria, Morocco

The old, walled souk is a shopping paradise for artworks, carpets, metalwork, etc. A little hustling at some stores, which can be a bit annoying. I just walk out and try another.
There is a morning (8 am) direct, air-conditioned bus from Agadir for about 7 Euro (one-way). Sit in the front if you get travel-queasy as the coast road is very curvy. Trip time approx 3 hours. Or hire a car for about 40 Euro/day.
An overnight stay is worth it as some of the hotels/guesthouses in the souk are very beautiful and worth a visit. Entrance is often through a small doorway into a courtyard and reception.
Eating out: Try Sam's at the very end of the harbour for excellent wines and fish dishes. Prices are very (very) reasonable.

Paddy's Irish Pub

Beirut, Lebanon

It was one of my favourite cities. On our first visit my wife and I fell in love with it. It was friendly, vibrant, tolerant and cosmopolitian. The enrgy that went into re-building it was breath-taking.
A little on the expensive side but that was because it was THE place to go to in the Middle East. How much is left? No idea, though I hear that some bars and restaurants have remained open throughout the bombing. Hats off to those brave landlords.

+ Paddy's Irish Pub is an excellent watering hole. ( Toubia Aoun Street, Beirut Central District, Tel: 01 972999 )
+ The Hole in the Wall is a very simple, relaxed English Pub. (Ashrafiyeh, Monnot Str. Tel: 961-3-549651)
+ The Cuban Coco Loco is worth a visit. Careful of the pitchers of Margaritas. (Hanna Bldg., Shehade St. Tel: 961 1 327732).
Strolling on the Corniche was a pleasure before the oil-slick spoilt the view.

The Bekka valley main road has (had) some of the ugliest architecture I have ever seen.
A visit worth is Zahle and the outlying vinyards (some do tours through their cellars).
Places to Stay: GRAND HOTEL KADRI, Brasil Str, Zahle, Beqaa Valley ( http://www.grandhotelkadri.com/ )
Baalbek is an ugly town but has stunning Roman ruins. They really are worth the trip.

A sad postscript: Paddy's closed because of the Israeli bombing of 2006 and sadly will not be re-opening. To us 'watering hole' collectors, a sad loss.

Manakah mountains with village

Yemen

We lived four years in Sana'a, Yemen. The expatriats life there was, for us, a slightly wierd experience. There was always a sense of unreality and imminent danger about the place and the people.
The people were (mostly) very friendly, charming and warm; always ready with "Welcome to Yemen" greetings. On the other hand, the city is absolutely engulfed with army and police checkpoints, road-blocks, high-security areas with slalom style cement blocks. Kalashnikovs are a part of everyday life; and not just in the hands of the security personal. (More later)

Vinyards galore

Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

My favourite wandering area in Germany is the Südlicheweinstrasse (Southern wine route) in Rheinland-Pfalz. ( http://www.suedlicheweinstrasse.de/ ).
Reinland-Pfalz is the warmest corner of the country. It has the largest and oldest mixed forest in Europe. A wine tasting and traditional home-cooking paradise. Wine festival time is Whitsuntide and September.
The vineyards run for miles along pleasantly undulating hills in the shadow of the forest. Small villages are nestled in the valleys and on top of the hills. Each village has it's wine and food delights.
Our favourite place to stay is Rhodt (http://www.rhodt-unter-rietburg.de/ ), a charming, relaxing, friendly village with a good selection of tipples to try..

Trader Vic's Sea-shell

Dubai

One of our favourite cities. Partly because of the absolutely stunning architecture. Out of the rush-hour the city is easy to get around by taxi. The taxis are efficient, clean, modern and cheap.
The Rugby 7's in December is one of the Holy Grails for rugby fans. Book your hotel early as it is always sold out (25,000 tickets).
Hotels range from good-tourist to palaces. Prices very reasonable. Booking online is much cheaper than 'at-the-desk'. ( http://www.dubai.com/s/dubaihotel/ ).
Restaurants and bars galore.
My favouite places: Trader Vic's, (Crown Plaza Hotel). Happy-hour 18:00 - 20:00,
Biggles pub, Airport Millennium Hotel.
Irish Village, (5 minutes walking distance from the Millennium).
Picking a place at random is also rather risk-free.

Intro Updated Jul 19, 2007

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Sibo10

Places to go

Eating and drinking delights

Agadir, Morocco

Essaouria, Morocco

Beirut, Lebanon

Yemen

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