Day 178 was our final full day in Essaouira before heading to Sidi Kaouki. Between surf sessions, goodbye dinners, FaceTimes with family and friends back home, and one last visit to KSE Surf Shop, it turned into one of those unexpected days that makes you realise how attached you’ve become to a place and the people in it.

I turned 40 on the coast of Morocco surrounded by my family, good food, ocean air and complete chaos learning to kitesurf. From birthday cards and Moroccan leather gifts to wipeouts in massive surf, sunset dinners and cheesecake back at the apartment, it was one of the most memorable birthdays of my life.

Day 176 of our family worldschooling journey brought another kite surfing lesson in Essaouira, plenty of crashes, a near breakthrough on the board, tangled kite lines, late-night pasta, and introducing a local msemen cook to the magic of Biscoff spread. On the eve of turning 40, it felt like one of those chaotic, memorable travel days that somehow captures everything this trip has become.

Day 175 of our family gap year brought the second stage of my kitesurfing lessons in Morocco. From learning how to generate power with the kite to getting dragged through the ocean and potentially breaking my pinky toe, it was a challenging but exciting day filled with progression, beach life and slow family moments back at the apartment.

A surprise kite surfing lesson, family beach time, safe food discoveries, and a much-needed quiet night in. Day 174 of our travels in Essaouira was another memorable part of my 40th birthday week in Morocco.

Quad biking through the sand dunes of Essaouira, mint tea in a fisherman’s beach shack, sunset views from ancient Moroccan fortress walls and another unforgettable day of 40th birthday celebrations in Morocco.

After a rough week of sickness in Morocco, Day 172 finally brought some relief. A family surf session in Essaouira, the best meal we’ve had in weeks, progress toward cadastral endorsement and the beginning of Levi’s 40th birthday celebrations made for one of our best days in a while.

A rough Mother’s Day in Morocco with sickness, work stress and flat energy around the apartment somehow turned into one of the best surf sessions yet. While Kia rested in bed, Levi and Emmett scored perfect waves in Essaouira and shared an unforgettable afternoon in the water.

Day 170 in Morocco started with creativity, good waves and one of our best surf sessions yet in Essaouira. The kids are getting more confident in the ocean every day, but after an incredible afternoon at the beach, stomach bugs hit again and the day ended very differently to how it began.

After battling upset stomachs in Morocco, we slowed things right down in Essaouira. A breezy beach day, a 5km run, discussions about the future of our trip, and plenty of uncertainty about where we head next.

Day 168 in Morocco was a slow recovery day filled with stomach bugs, quiet moments in the apartment, website work, and reflections on why outdoor space matters so much for our family while travelling.

A fun morning surfing in Essaouira quickly turned into a rough day of upset stomachs, giant tagines, sugar loaded mint tea and a long night of food poisoning fears in Morocco. Day 167 was definitely one to remember for all the wrong reasons.

Our first family surf lesson in Essaouira turned into one of the most fun days of the trip so far. Small waves, plenty of wipeouts, lots of laughter and all four of us standing up by the end of the session made for an unforgettable day in Morocco.

Our first full day in Essaouira was all about slowing down, figuring things out, and settling in. From quiet cafes and grocery surprises to windy beach walks and a home-cooked dinner, we finally started to find our rhythm.

From accidentally celebrating Mother’s Day a week early in Marrakech to roadside argan oil stops and finally arriving in beautiful Essaouira, Day 164 was full of laughs, surprises, and the exciting start of our two week coastal chapter in Morocco.