Today I am sitting in a hotel where I can look out past the balcony (5 x 7) and see a wide beach set up with beach chairs--all facing the Mediterranean Sea. This is definitely a tourist area. The sides of the hills are honeycombed with three and four story beach places. It is a welcome relief from the intensity of Tangiers. Let's start back at Friday night:
We went to see the flamenco dancers. They were fantastic with their sweeping skirts, castanets, clapping, singing men, guitars. The menu selections were pork, (which most of us took), fish, chicken, and bull's tail--Chuck and Christine chose that. Said it tasted very rich, a little fat, but flavorful. Later both Jerry and Chuck perfected their clothes drying skills using the hair driers. We could only take a carry-on for our trip to Morocco so we had to pack carefully..
On Saturday morning, we drove through the sunny sherry wine region of Jerez to Algeciras. We saw huge ranch houses, fields of cotton, many olive trees (some 800 years old), sheep, horses, cattle, hayfields. It was a pleasant drive. At our comfort stop, we saw a number of motorcycle riders. All had on helmets. In Seville there were many motor scooters and bicycles.
Around noon we arrived at the Ferry and sailed across the Straits of Gibraltar to Africa. In Tanger (that is how they spell it), we met a new bus and our guide Mohammed. He spoke flawless English and was a real pleasure. We noticed that most women wore scarves and long dresses. A few young women did not. Only men were seated at sidewalk cafes. Our guide explained that it would be ok for female tourist to sit there, but if a local women sat there, the assumption would be that she was looking for 'trouble.' We drove along the Atlantic ocean. Stopped for mint tea (excellent) and some cookies. Saw camels that could be ridden. Also selling couscous mixed with fresh, warm camel's milk. There seemed to be quite a bit of trash along the road - similar to India. Land along the seafront is very expensive. They are having more ecological concerns and not allowing people to build so close to the coast. Walked through old town in a seaside fishing village, Asilah. Finally we drove back to Tanger and our hotel.
Dinner was at the hotel. The main dish was a tangine served in a huge bowl. In the middle of the bowl was a whole roasted chicken, surrounded by couscous, and topped with carrots, turnips, squash, parsnips, and cabbage served with a vegetable broth. It was piled up in a cone shaped mountain. Very good.
This morning we met Mohammed for a stroll through the Casbah. Again we were trudging through the narrow alleys which were pungent with early morning smells. Visited a local carpet store. Some of us succumbed to the salesmanship and the beauty of the carpets --enough said. Finally we arrived at the Souk--market where we were bombarded from all sides with 'deals.' Four for $10 quickly became 5 for $5. It was a wild experience, but one that we expected.
Took the ferry back across the Strait of Gibraltar. Rode the bus two hours through Spain's vacation area the Costa Del Sol. I must admit I slept most of the way. I feel refreshed. Tonight we go out for a dinner of salt-encrusted sea bass. That's it for now.
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