Sorry Cordoba... Tangier, Morocco is the best!

January 12, 2020

Sorry Cordoba... Tangier, Morocco is the best!

Extremely excited to be heading into Morocco in Northern Africa. So excited that we reached the ferry terminal an hour and a half before departure. In our defense, we didn't know how long the drive from Algeciras to Tarifa would be. And, although it was dark and a windy road through the mountains, it only took us about a half hour.

Being veterans of ferry travel, naturally we fell asleep on the ride. Upon landing in Tangier, we followed the crowd off the boat, across a two football field long pier to the waiting customs officer. Only to be told that we were supposed to have our passports stamped on the boat. We didn't hear that because we were sleeping. Back to the boat we raced, up two levels of stairs, only to be chastised by the customs officer on the boat as to why we didn't do it properly. Once again, off the boat. Across the football fields to the Tangierian customs officer that had a little chuckle as we came up huffing and puffing.

Then the adventure began.

I had hired a guide for us, which was one of the best decisions I made. Moghit arranged our ferry tickets and met us as we departed Moroccan customs. He loaded us into a small van and off we went.

He recommended that we do a little sightseeing at the outskirts of the city first as much of the old town was not open for business yet. We were so glad he did. The driver took us through a part of Tangier that we weren't expecting. Through mansions. Lots and lots of mansions. We saw three of the summer homes of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and the summer home of Malcolm Forbes.

We then headed to the coast for a visit to the Cave of Hercules where legend has it he stayed while he was separating the continents of Africa from Europe.

Check out the size of these guy's poles! (that didn't sound right)

Where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean

Heading into the Hercules Cave

Moghit took us for our first meal in Africa. He called them "pancakes" but they were more like crumpets smothered in almond butter and some of the most wonderful mint tea we had ever had.

Moghit was a fantastic guide. A lifelong resident of Tangier and a former school teacher, his knowledge and the way he presented the information... hell, even I could get it.

On the ride to the Kasbah, after letting us know what an imbecile Trump is, he told us the thousands of years of history the city had.

Entering the Kasbah, we were transported into a different world full of sounds, smells and activity.

Surprise!!! Sonja is shopping.

This is the local market in the neighborhood.

The restaurant where the Rolling Stones hung out.

And after an amazing day in the old part of Tangier, we settled in for our last meal in Africa. I could not tell you what this was that we were eating, I just know it wasn't looking back at me.