Tangier, Morocco

And now for something completely different

The small entrance to the Mediterranean at Gibraltar means that North Africa is nearby. Actually, the cape of Tarifa (in Spain, not Gibraltar) is the closest place to reach Africa, and on the southern side is the city of Tangier, Morocco. We took a day trip from Gibraltar, just because we could.

Place the cursor on any thumbnail
to view each photo and its description.
Click a thumbnail to lock the photo for a longer look.

Our first stop was an opportunity for the tourists to ride camels and have their photo taken. I love looking at these comical animals, but camels as beasts of burden are so two centuries ago. Every working camel I've ever seen on the African continent or Asia makes its living as a model, and these were no exception. Nice work if you can get it.

We were sure a one-day trip to Morocco would be a quick swirl around the sights, and a leisurely stroll through an endless gift shop masquerading as a marketplace. We weren't disappointed. This is the kasbah, the fortification that surrounds the shopping area called the medina.

Our tour included lunch inside the medina. Whether it was authentic is anyone's guess, but we were serenaded throughout. There was a sort of mandolin, a drum, and a violin. The violinist rested the chinrest of his instrument on his lap and played it like a tiny cello.

Shops in the medina appear to conform to the ancient architecture. It doesn't take much space to provide a little kiosk to sell staples like bread.

The local people really do their daily shopping in the medina as well. Here are some brooms that are the real thing, not some souvenir novelty.