Tangier (Morocco), Algeciras and Gibraltar

---

---

No easy way to summarize this side trip from Malaga. Two booking errors on my part led to some temporary grief, but we still came away with a worthwhile experience in a part of the world we have not visited before.

The local bus got us to the ferry terminal in Algeciras, but I had bought tickets to Tangier Med, not realizing it was 50km east of the city. Instead of the expected 10 minute walk to our guest house we had to find a way there. Fortunately for us Omar, a fellow passenger, recognized our confusion and arranged to get us into a taxi-van with 3 other passengers and share the fare.

Omar actually apologized for not coming with us!

The taxi dropped us off outside the Medina (old walled city) and gestured vaguely in the direction of the Dar Jameel guesthouse....at which point about 10 young touts descended on us to be our guide...we were obvious marks...but after a small amount of money changed hands we arrived at the door (check the photo, we would never have found it) only to find they had no record of our booking! But they found us a room and the worst was behind us...apart from one determined "guide" who always seemed to be lying in wait for us and wouldn't take NO for an answer.

The next day we had arranged a full day tour of Tangier and nearby with a guide and driver. That worked out very well...much better than a large group bus tour and very reasonable cost.

Remember to click on the first photo to get a larger image.

---

Photos

Ferry to Tangier
This is the one we should have been on!

Dar Jameel guest house
Tucked away in an alley it was a challenge to find.

Our room
Compact but comfortable and colourful in the Moorish style.

Bathroom door
decorated with the distinctive Moorish 8 pointed star.

Moroccan dinner
Apparently these are traditional Berber hats; the meal was excellent, Marlene had sole and I had lamb tagine (slow cooked in a clay pot.)

With Ali in the Medina
Ali was an excellent personable guide who showed us around Tangiers (1 million) with driver Muhammed (really!)

Cap Spartel light.
This is the point where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.

Lawrence and Florence of Arabia.
Ali insisted that we must ride a camel and eat couscous while in Morocco...so we did!

Descending into The Cave of Hercules
Thankfully that is not the Grim Reaper leading me in...just the Berber guide in his traditional djellaba!

Hand carved cave
Dating back to Phoenician times (3000 years back) this cave was a source of minerals and stone grinding tools.

Medina souk
Or outdoor market....no prices, everything is negotiated.

Offal anyone?
A haggis maker's dream stall!

Recognize this lady?
The slick salesman whipped this on in 2 seconds flat...and made his sale.

Berber rugs
I honed my negotiating skills here and we bought 2 small hand made silk rugs to bring home.

Tangier waterfront
The new section of Tangier is very modern and quite flashy with lots of Saudi and Emirates oil money invested.

Nice old Algeciras hotel
We made it back to Spain with far less drama then enjoyed the charms of the Reina Cristina hotel, well located close to the ferry dock.

The Rock
It looms over the Spanish city of Algeciras. It is a little outpost of the UK. Plenty of fish & chips, warm beer, even a Marks & Spencer's.

From the top
We took the cable car to the top, lucky to have a day with great visibility.

Infamous apes
These Barbary Macaques are always on the lookout to steal something.

High on Gibraltar
Looking north to the Costa del Sol.

Comments

[Lorraine Runstedler]

Early Sunday Morning Tour
How Incredible - is the water that blue? - Marlene, nice wrap round(can't spell the name) - lucky you getting some of those silk rugs - should send me a pic. so i can drool(ha) - nice way to spend my Sunday morning with a coffee travelling with you - where are we going next year - stay safe and thanks for sharing - xo

[Lin]

Fun
Rick and I took the same Ferry but only did a turnaround. Looks very exciting

[Garry]

Lost & Found
Thank goodness for Omar !! Travel 'hiccups' in foreign lands can be stressful - so glad all turned out so well. Looked like a great side trip. Cheers, Garry.