Tangier, Morocco

From Europe to Africa

June 8, 2013

- Journey

There is something slightly unsettling about crossing from one continent to the next, especially when the two in question couldn’t be more different. Typically when we think of continents they give off the impression of being distinct, vastly separated, and dissimilar lands. Then when you can cross from Europe into Africa by taking a brief ferry ride it forces you to question why, despite the short distances separating them, are the two so drastically different.

From the far southern tip of Spain it is a short jaunt on the ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. There are multiple ferry options from Spain but from the southern-most point in the country, Tarifa, the only option is to Tangier. As its location might indicate, Tangier serves as a gateway into Morocco and Africa. Once you step off the ferry there is certainly a different feeling than in Spain. It is difficult to quantify it exactly but raw and unpolished might be a start.

The old medina sits on a hilltop overlooking the port and the rest of the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Inside its crumbling façade, under repair at the time of my visit, are narrow winding streets with steep slopes often negotiated by steps. Being more a gateway city than an actual destination in its own right, unlike Marrakesh and Fez, the medina here is not as aggressive in terms of hawkers constantly assailing the visitors. The Kasbah Museum was small but interesting but aside from that and the impressive open plaza at the Grand Socco there were few interesting sights in Tangier.

South from the port a broad and busy boulevard with a palm tree lined median divides the city from the windswept sandy beaches. Following that road south leads toward the train station and the main point of visiting Tangier, as a starting point to reach the real attractions.