Tangier / Chefchaouen 🇲🇦

After about 3 1/2 months of work, it was finally time for a well-deserved summer vacation. We met in Málaga, spent a night there, and took a ferry from Tarifa to Tangier, Morocco. Fortunately, we also arrived at the right port, as things could have gone wrong.

Upon arrival in Tangier, we passed a heated argument between Moroccan taxi drivers and headed to the Riad Arous Chamel hotel. Of course, on the way there, we were accosted by a young boy who led us and, naturally, also collected money from us. The rooftop terrace of the riad offers a stunning view of the old town and is a beautiful building in Arabic style. By the way, the breakfast is also amazing. We happily acknowledge the manager's reassurance that the blood, piles of intestines, and sheep heads are not a normal sight in Morocco because it's the Feast of Sacrifice. The streets are quite empty and many shops are closed, making it similar to Christmas. The only thing that really surprises us is seeing children running around with the heads of sheep and hitting them together.

In the evening, we meet Hamza, who works at the hotel and speaks German, which is pleasant for better understanding. Besides Arabic, the most spoken languages are French and Spanish. After our initial uneasy feelings, things improve as there is more life in the streets on the second day. The blood is gone and people are simply friendly, although their stares are quite unsettling. We spend a day at the beach and Hamza takes us through the Medina (old town) and the new town, which has a very European feel. As a first impression, it's nice. However, Tanger is not a place where you need to stay for more than two nights. So we take a taxi to Chefchaouen, the blue city and also the stronghold for hashish. Again, we find a beautiful hostel with friendly staff. We explore the streets and find a rooftop terrace where we're supposed to have dinner. But the stories on the side are the really interesting part because something going wrong just doesn't seem to stop. The typical dish is tajine - chicken, vegetables, and spices cooked in a clay pot over a fire - waiting for about 45 minutes until the salad arrives, forgetting the drinks, not clearing the table from the people who were there before us, bringing three knives and only one fork, and the general duration of everything is simply wonderful. I like it, we take it with humor, and the waiter does too. In general, it seems that blond women especially confuse some people here, although I don't want to blame it solely on that. At the end of the day, we somehow get a discount, we're full, and the waiter has a smile on his face. We're not in a hurry...

The evening is spent playing cards and drinking tea, there is no beer. But playing with the two Moroccans completely exhausts me because they cheat in the most bold and blatant way. Of course, I gladly join in, but the Dutch couple doesn't quite get the hang of it. This leads to a conversation. It turns out that the two of them have a rental car and are heading towards Fes/Meknès, just like us. So what happens next should be clear.

We're in the car to Meknès, saving taxi money and only having to contribute some money for fuel.😊

It's worth mentioning the trip to Akchour, a 7 km long "hike" over rocks and stones, past small and large waterfalls, and about 5000 Moroccans, right through the Atlas Mountains. It's incredibly beautiful but also very exhausting. M.L. would probably be proud of me. The pictures tell a little more, as always I look forward to feedback.

PS: It's more relaxed than expected, but still a bit strange when it comes to the treatment of women. She is generally not addressed, but always me, as she speaks Spanish much better than I do and my Arabic is a bit rusty, conversation tends to revolve around me.