Tangiers, Morocco: "Ladies, you need sunglasses? Some spices? A husband?"

Almost Famous...anyone? The 40 minute boat ride from Tarifa to Tangiers was a smooth one.  We were so anxious to get off of the boat and on to our next adventure; all we could do was sing “Tangerine” and make fun of KB's motion sickness wristbands.  We weren’t sure what to expect from the “touristy” city of Tangiers, but we were thrilled to arrive and explore.   Like any good tourist, we did our research and took in the cautionary tips from our fellow travelers: You’re visiting an Islamic country; dress modestly +  keep your arms and legs covered out of respect If you are a woman, no matter what you wear, expect to receive male attention ("good" and bad) Avoid anyone asking if you need a guide.  They may seem helpful, but it will cost you.               Use your right hand for everything.  The left is considered unclean. Guard your belongings and don’t wander down any empty side streets.       With our arms and legs covered, gripping our purses for dear life, we cautiously stepped off the boat and on to African soil for the first time.  Before we could take in the scenery, we dodged our way through a crowd of men asking if we needed directions.  Once in the clear, we stopped to look around.  Tangiers is filled with tall whitewashed buildings and mosques, beautiful red Moroccan flags lining the water, palm trees and tempting beaches (which, given the modest dress code for women, we would avoid). The streets were filled with men and a handful of women.  We noticed the stares, ignored the hisses and cat calls and made our way to the Casbah.  We felt more at ease when we noticed other tourists passing us by.  Had I been able to carry everything, I would have spent all of my money on the pottery and jewelry lined along the walkways of the marketplace.  The few locals whom we had interacted with were very kind.  We wandered up and down the streets, buying souvenirs and picking up delicious Khobz bread for lunch. Just as we were about to leave, we were treated to a call to prayer, amplified through the entire city through speakers mounted in the prayer tower.  Ah-mazing. We only had a few hours to explore before our ferry departed, so we caught just a glimpse of what Morocco has to offer. If Tangiers is considered the "touristy" city, I would love to see what its other cities are like- with more time and perhaps an empty backpack. Tomorrow we feast on chocolate in Switzerland!   xx Kate

View of Africa from Tarifa, Spain

          

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