Tangier… Sort of

Our first full day on the road was, well... almost entirely on the road. We drove the four hours from Casablanca to Tangier for lunch and a quick stroll around the casbahs and medina.

Lunch was meh and the tour from our local guide was short and meh. But here's a little on Tangier, which is actually an interesting city.

It is the third largest city in Morocco and is undergoing a growth phase under King Mohammed VI with an eye to improving the commercial harbour.

Due to its proximity to Europe and The Middle East, its position in Africa and access to the Atlantic, Tangier has been long fought over.

Many different nations have influenced the development of Tangier since the Phoenicians founded it a early as the 10th century. Colonial influences include Spain, France, England, Portugal to name a few. The city has Berber, Muslim, Christian and Jewish occupants and influence. It seems to have changed hands at least once per decade for millennia!

In 1923, foreign colonies considered Tangier to have international status. France, Spain, Britain, Portugal, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Italy and the USA created an Interzone which let artistic development and debauchery flourish.

The hedonistic culture attracted famous authors, artist, musicians, celebrities and criminals to sip coffee and mint tea from the 205-year-old cafe in the petite socco at the centre of the Medina. Van Gough, Picasso, Matisse, George Orwell, Paul Bowles, Sir Francis Bacon, Tennessee Williams, Jack Kerouac, Allan Ginsberg and the Rolling Stones to name a few.

We began in the casbah where the locals live in centuries-old homes and wealthy Europeans buy and run riads - bed and breakfasts.

Down the hill, we entered the medina. Unfortunately, it was a holiday (the prophet's birthday) so the medina was quiet and relatively empty.

We wrapped up the short 90-minute tour and begrudgingly got back on the bus. It's another 2.5 hours to get to Chefchoaun. Blerg.