Tangier

After Chefchaouen, we drove north  to the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. It was the first day of the Eid celebration (end of Ramadan fasting) so the streets were lively, cafes were filled with people. The whole coast was dotted with summer houses and resorts all the way to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Thirty minutes before Tangiers, we saw the Tanger-Med port which is one of the largest ports in Africa and the Mediterranean. Across the Gibraltar Strait, only 7 nautical miles away was Europe. It was fun to catch a glimpse of the famous Rock of Gibraltar.

Once in Tangiers, we visited the Cave of Hercules where the mythical figure, Hercules, used to rest after finishing his 12 labors. It was packed with tourists and locals as it's a big tourist attraction.

Tangiers is located on the Maghreb coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. We drove through La Montagne, an exclusive suburb of royal palaces and villas, and over the pine-covered headland to the Cap Spartel Lighthouse.

                                                   

Today was our son Jordan's 14th birthday.  The wonderful staff at Riad Shams prepared an amazing dinner for him and got a delicious chocolate cake.




Our wonderful driver Redouane gave hime a fun gift. Moroccan are warm and generous people.

Tangiers  was the birthplace of the famous 14th century traveller Ibn Battuta. He was a medieval Moroccan traveller and scholar, who is widely recognised as one of the greatest travellers of all time. He is known for his extensive travels, accounts of which were published in his Travels (Rihla). Over a period of thirty years, Ibn Battuta visited most of the known Islamic world as well as many non-Muslim lands. His journeys included trips to North Africa, the Horn of Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and China.

Ibn Battuta said "“Traveling—it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” We ended our travels in Morocco at Tangiers' Ibn Battuta Airport. We loved exploring the medinas, kasbahs, Sahara, Morocco's mountains and beaches. We got excited opening the doors of our riads, wondering what's waiting us in its courtyard. We met wonderful locals along the way; guides, drivers, chefs, homechefs, camel guides, shopkeepers, and many more.  We made so many friends in Morocco and can't wait to return to accompany our tour groups there. Until next time maʿ al-salāmah

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