Exploring Tangier

Aziz was fantastic always there to help with anything we needed.  Also very vague about what anything cost which made us really nervous.  A tagine ... sure I'll serve it up on the terrace.  The sunset and view up there is  spectacular.  Wine of course, I will bring you a bottle.  Erm a bottle of wine can cost anything from a few dollars to hundreds! We needn't have worried he was just a lovely guy who was concerned for us.

My pain continued to increase and walking was the only thing that helped.  So we explored.

There were wonderful alleyways everywhere, with murals on the wall and suprises like a baker baking cookies on an open fire which he immediately shared with us.  Kids roared screaming with joy chasing home made footballs and there were cats everywhere.  People would make little cardboard shelters for them and as people walked by they would put a little food and water in the makeshift shelters. We never saw a scrawny cat!

One of our favourite places was a little cafe which sold amazing mint tea.  Musicians would drop by and play their ouds, people would join in singing and playing drums. Reminded me of my childhood where everyone sang all the time (especially in our house).  Not so much here in Oz.  I wonder why?

Aziz recommended a fantastic restaurant Hassans which was always full.  He had long tables and you just squished in.  Met some really interesting people, such as a young German woman with her Moroccan husband (who spoke English with a German accent).  He was from the desert region and it was great to hear his perspective on Morocco and Europe.  We were really excited as it was an area we would be visiting.

Aziz also recommended a chemist who sold us some cream and pills to ease the pain in my back which continued to throb!

There were always interesting people to meet such as Punksy who brightened up the daggy electricity boxes bringing a little joy into everyone's life.  

And of course there were the markets... glorious fresh fruit and veggies.  It was one of the reasons we had hired the house so we could experiment with all the different foods.  We loved the Egg House which was crammed with eggs in the morning.  People chattered choosing which ones they will buy. Shopping in Australia is so boring, everything has a fixed price, is one of the most common things I hear from refugees

 !

We were astounded by the fish markets.  Fish of all types and descriptions - not so sure about the sea snakes but the lobster, swordfish and prawns looked delicious.  Men standing on boxes shelled prawns with the speed of light, laughing and joking as they worked!

We mostly walked in the mornings and evenings when it was cool.  It was amazing to gaze over the water to see the two continents of Africa and Europe.  Spectacular! A calm descended when the tourist groups retired to their  cruise ships but hey it was never quiet.  The Moroccans are definitely night owls not early birds.