Day 2

I was hassled by a few men, but nothing like I had been led to believe. One guy (waiter at Forbes birthday) did take me through the Kasbah even when I told him I would not pay him and would not look at any carpets.

I then made my way through the Medina, finding myself among the poultry stalls, spice baskets and a very pungent fish market, eventually arriving at the train station, where I purchased my ticket to Fez. I then went walking along the beach, with the camels, and back, where I ran into the guy from the boat. I am now sitting in the Cafe de Paris having a coke.

I am both relieved and disappointed with Tangier. Relieved, because the harassment has been minor and I feel that I can take care of myself. Disappointed because Tangier is far from exotic. The markets have little of interest to offer; the Kasbah has nice views but none of the real beauty one finds at, for example, the Alhambra. While I'm sure that some of this has to do with the amount of money spent by the government, much of it does not. Crumbling walls are only so interesting. (There is a blond sitting to my right also writing in a diary). In short, this is not the hell-hole that Lonely Planet claims, but also not particularly interesting or exciting, none of the smells or sights of someplace truly interesting.

(When do people eat here??)

Leaving the cafe and heading toward the hotel I was stopped by the "guide" for the three Brits. He insisted I could not get lunch at the hotel and took me to a small restaurant in the medina. I paid 22.5 dh for good meat and fries -- probably still a rip-off but much better than the tourist trap last night.

Then, of course, he took me to his rug shop. I did see one I liked and told him that I would buy it when I cam back, if I felt the price was fair ($400 down to $250 by the time I left). I don't know if he believed me.

Anyway, I'm now sitting by the hotel pool, listening to the wind blow through the palm trees, preparing to head for Fez.

written by  shoshtrvls on May 20, 1991 from Tangier, Morocco
from the travel blog: Morocco (1991)
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