TANGIER, HISTORIC PORT AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN: Guest Post by Lucas Gutierrez-Arnold

Tangier, Morocco.

My grandson Lucas, a student at Skidmore College, spent a semester abroad last spring in Madrid, Spain. While there, he and some other students went on a weekend trip to Morocco, flying on RyanAir to Tangier. (It is easy to forget that Spain is just across the Strait of Gibraltar from North Africa!) Tangier is a port city, bordering both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. It has an ancient history dating from Phoenician times in the 10th century BCE. 

Typical white-washed buildings in Tangier.

While in Tangier, Lucas did a day-trip to Chefchaouen, the famous blue city where the cobblestone streets are lined with houses painted a bright shade of blue. (Look for his post about Chefchaouen next week.) Many thanks to Lucas for sharing his photos. Here are his pictures of Tangier.

Map of the Medina (historical center) of Tangier.

View of Tangier at night from the beach.

MOROCCO: GARDENS AND MORE Part II, Guest Post by Susan Kean

Cape Spartel lighthouse.

I thank my good friend Susan Kean for sharing her excellent photographs and impressions of her recent trip to Morocco. This is a continuation of Part I, which posted last week.

Beautiful streets of Tangier.

The last part of our visit to Morocco was spent in Tangier in the North on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. A beautiful town with European influence--since it’s literally almost only a stone’s throw from Portugal/Spain and Gibraltar.

Courtyard of El Minzah hotel. Our room was on the second floor.

We stayed in a traditional modernized Hotel El Minzah, which was good.

Lord’s Prayer written in Arabic around the arch in the sanctuary of St. Andrew's Church..

Our first day we visited a public garden and then were taken to St Andrews Church, which was a gift from the King of Morocco to Queen Victoria. 

George signs condolence book for Queen.

Those who wished could sign the condolence book for the Queen, which the Ambassador was going to deliver to London the following day.

Straits of Gibraltar. Atlantic to the left; Mediterranean to the right.

Next day, a visit to the Cape Spartel lighthouse, which is at the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea… the Straits of Gibraltar.

Rohuna garden. It was a long walk to get there!

Followed by a visit to the Rahuna Garden, the result of a dream of writer/ horticulturalist Umberto Pasti.

Inside the American Legation Museum. This was a representation of a battle that interested George greatly, where the Moroccans chased out the Portuguese in 1578!

Welcome to US Legation Museum. Embassy moved to Rabat and philanthropic US folks decided to keep this beautiful building Lots more to the story!

Last day we spent at the American Legation Museum and a glorious private garden owned and designed by New Zealander,Veere Grenney.

Gazebo Garden, our last spot.

 

Check out these other posts for more about Morocco at The Intrepid Tourist:

Marrakech, Fes and Rabat, By Kathryn Mohrmn  

16 Days in Morocco Part 1, By Tom and Susan Weisner  

16  Days in Morocco, Part 2, By Tom and Susan Weisner