Breakfast in hotel dining room to start our day. They had a nice spread. Soft boiled eggs even. I am sure we got ripped off price wise. I mean you can get an outstanding cafe petit dejeuner for $2.50. But we were waiting for a guide and did not relish trying to find our way out the Médina to eat.
Youssef, the guide, came by right about the end of breakfast. We had a quick discussion about services and prices. I had been planning to rent a car and drive around to various things and places I wanted to revisit. But, Youssef is actually cheaper than a car and he provides a van and driver. Easy choice. These guides make a good living thru kickbacks from restaurants and venues when they bring tourists in. So we win because he is able to charge us less.
So day began with a driving tour of parts of Tanger. We went all over. Had a nice trip to Perdicaras Park. Story goes, back a hundred years or so, Me Perdicaras was kidnapped. He was an American. Turns out the US President let the kidnappers know they were going to die if they did not release him. They let him go. Movie made aboutnit starring Sean Connery. Perdicaras left thousands of acres of land to the Moroccan govt and they turned it into a park named for him.
Next stop Cap Spartel lighthouse. It’s 153 years old. The lighthouse is where the Mediterranean meets Atlantic. Beautiful views. I look at the two oceans and see no difference.
On to Hercules grotto. First, a camel ride down the beach. Every tourist must ride a camel. If u don’t uou risk being labeled a total failure. 44 years ago, I rode a camel at the very same spot. After the camel, we went to the grotto. In 1974 the grotto was literally a hole in the ground on a bluff above the beach. There was nothing around for miles. There was an extension ladder down into he ground thru the hole. A little rough. Now?Everything is over. There is a restaurant. Bathrooms. You walk into the grotto via a paved path. Inside, the ceiling hole has been sealed. Here is electric floor lighting. It’s changed just a tad. Either way, like going home.
When I was here in 1974 I stayed at the Ville de France hotel. My dad lived there for a few years in the 1970s. Lots of fond memories. So our guide arranged a tour of the place. It has been extensively remodeled into a palace. I recognized nothing. Till I went behind the hotel. Turns out the old front is now the rear entrance. Now it became familiar. The hotel is quite old. Henri Matisse, the famous painter, lived here andnpinted in one of the upstairs rooms. We got to go peek. He painted a street scene from the window view. And the view has not changed.
We dumped our driver and walked the Médina. Then we walked the Casbah.
All of it is so familiar 44 years later. Of course, these areas are so old they never change.
We Ate lunch inside the Médina.
Walked more.
When Dad lives here he made a few friends. One of whom was Ahmed Amrani. A merchant in Tangiers. He and Dad did business together. By that I mean Dad helped him with restrictive Moroccan currency laws. Our guide Youssef looked him up, somehow, turns out he passed 11 years ago. But, Youssef knows another Amrani who took over all the stores. So, we went to Amrani’s shop at #13 in the Casbah to say hello. Had a nice chat about old times. And, like my Dad, we bought rugs from Amrani. And Dad’s discount was still good. Love that. I have his contact info and we may have to send a nice California gift.
Continuing down memory lane, we went to the Petit Socco, a small square in the Médina, and sat awhile just to watch the world go by. Youssefs idea to knock loose old memories. It seems to work.
Memory lane is long and winding. Next up, a walk to Eric’s. Back in 1974 I often went to Eric’s for burgers. And fries. Well, it’s still there in the same place. No fries. We had burgers. I had my fave, the egg burger. Still very good. Some memories make he pay great. And sometimes your memory is good.
Back to hotel after burgers. Off to bed. We are whipped.