2018. Tangier & Chaouen

This almost brings us to today - we are almost in Fes so I may take a break and see if my mood improves before continuing this reflection.

- We got to Tarifa.

(Here is where I reflect upon my journal entries to figure out what happened today, 2 months ago.)

We took a bus from Ronda around noon after a morning walking tour and "lunch/souvenir/rush/free time". We were taken to the port to ride a ferry to Tangiers. On the way, we could see the rock of Gibraltar. I was cranky and tired. The sun was strong. We also made a "hydraulic stop" in olive oil country and sampled Spanish delicacies: almonds, olive oil, cherries, and turron.

We arrived in Tangier in the evening and in small groups, we explored the brand new beach front. Their McDonalds was intimidating. I had no idea how to order but it felt so fancy. The staff were so well dressed. They had fresh baked goods in the cafe. They had digital order platforms. we could watch the soccer matches on the large screens. I was really happy to be traveling during the FIFA World Cup.

The next morning, we left early and saw our first medina in Tangiers. A medina is a ---
walls. Every medina has schools, bakeries, and mosques inside. The cemeteries are outside the walls. After our introduction to Morocco, we got a bus and started driving south towards Chaouen. "The Blue City" was a place I was really looking forward to visiting. We did not have enough time at all. It was another tourist dump where they gave us a brief tour and let us try some samples before letting us try to have lunch, shop, explore, and model. ... more time. no justice.

I was upset by this and the same in Cordoba. Cities that I dreamed of were reduced to 90 minute experiences. How can you make the most with so little time? I am thankful I had the opportunity to be there but it almost feels as if I was barely there at all. I enjoyed lunch on a roof top almost all to ourselves. There was an asian woman with a good book and a cat. We watched the cat try to run off with her scraps and the bread off the table. We learned that lemon chicken and bread were delicious. The cat tried to befriend us and then rob us of our scraps as well. We had little time to get too lost. It was beautiful. I couldn't breathe and relax. I couldn't sit and watch. We got back on the bus and drove on to arrive in Fes in the afternoon.