In less than 1 hour ... you can sail 18 kms across the Strait of Gibraltar ... from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco ... between the continents of EUROPE and AFRICA.
And given the opportunity to ride on a camel next to the Atlantic Ocean ...
Why Would You Not GO?
Follow by opening TRAVEL MAP 2016/2017 on the right sidebar ([view larger], zoom +/-, pan around).
Click on any photo in this post and launch a slideshow gallery of all photos.
Wikipedia site for Morocco
Our FERRY ... leaves Tarifa (left) and approaches Tangiers (right).
If you're like us and have limited time and you're just visiting Morocco for the first time, you're probably best to use a guide service. Helen did the research and decided that Said Tours appeared to be the best. She wasn't wrong. We had a great day and we'd highly recommend his tour company!
Said (pron. SiyeeeEEEd) met us at the Tangiers ferry port and introduced us to our guide for the day Hassid. Said checked in on us several times throughout the day ... joined us at lunch and caught up with us during the market walk. At the end of the day, he ensured we were quickly and safely transferred through Moroccon to Spanish customs and explained all procedures clearly.
Seven hours in Tangiers, only allowed us to sample a very small snapshot of what Moroccon life is all about.
We were loaded into a comfortable van, with a driver and Hassid, taken on a slow tour through the city streets. We toured on a Sunday and the streets weren't busy. Apparently, on work days though, traffic is grid-locked and most people walk. As we drove, Hassid shared information about the colonial history and the current economy, politics, culture, language, and religion of the area. Photos were allowed and encouraged, but we were told to not make eye contact with anyone that we took a picture of. Unfortunately, because we travelled on New Years Day (and a Sunday), a couple of Museum stops were closed.
Cap Spartel
... is where the Atlantic Ocean & Mediterranean Sea meet and is near the summer home of the King of Morocco. It is also, ' The most North Western point of mainland Africa '. The cape rises to a height of 326 m. at the top of Jebel Quebir where the tower is located
Some Architecture ... gates, doors, windows and walls
At first, we understood a kasbah to be another word for fortress, and in some ways that’s true. But often entire towns are considered kasbahs and sometimes just a single building is. Every Moroccan village has a kasbah where either the ruling sheik or king once lived, providing a high vantage point to watch for approaching and unwanted guests. Generally, they look like mud castles, coming in many shapes and sizes, with walls made of layered dirt and stone, with high walls and very few windows.
The farmers come down from the mountains; they bring vegetables, cheeses and meats. Fishermen come in from the sea to bring the days' catch to the fishmongers.
There is a sense of ancient life here in this market ... toiling mixes with commerce, common and business people, there are real colours, the sounds of living, expected and unpleasant smells, joyous laughter, barter, singing and argument.
This city welcomes international cultures; religions are Islam, Hebrew, Christian and languages are; Arab, French, Spanish, Portuguese and English. Narrow streets shared by pedestrians, scooters, 3-wheeled delivery bikes, a few motorcycles and cars. Lots of cats, chickens, turkeys and ducks but no dogs. Moroccons don't allow dogs, leashed or unleashed, on the streets in the inner cities. People own dogs but they are typically kept on the owners property or as working farm animals. Our guide Hassid told us that a 'dogs rage is undesirable' in daily life.
Crusty ... not enough time spent here
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