Riad Zhor, Tangier
Just took a long hot shower after another intense day, this time in Asilah and Cap Spartel, a short drive up the coast from Tangier. From the top of the lighthouse at Cap Spartel, we can see the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Amazingly, Spain is clearly visible since it is only 9(!) miles away. Breathtaking. Jeff’s pictures of Spain were so sharp that he captured the windmills on the hills. Stayed long enough to watch the sun set over the ocean. So, so beautful!
We spent the earlier part of the day walking around in Asilah, such a charmng mix of Andalusian, French and Spanish influences everywhere you look. Had lunch in the wonderful Restaurant Dar Al Maghrebia at the recommendation of Shauna’s friend. Very yummy!
I think Kylie has photographed all the cats in Morocco. She is an avid animal lover. She found a litter of kittens with eye problems. Shauna, with the help of a veterinarian in the US, bought some medication at the pharmacy, and then not only found the litter but enlisted a local man to follow up with applyiing the medication as needed. They are awesome.
Mustapha quizzed us on something he told us earlier in the day and none of us knew the answer. We’re terrible students. He asked us what the people of Tangier called the city of Tangier. I volunteered “ uh…Tangier?” and he said no, you were not listening! It’s called the Bride of the North. I’m writing this here because I know he is going to ask us again and I want to shock him with the correct answer next time. I think we should put together all the Arabic words we have learned on the trip and string them together to make a sentence. That would really knock his socks off. Only problem is we haven’t learned any verbs. Or enough words for that matter. Nevermind.
Tomorrow we take a high speed train to Casablanca. Mustapha will meet us there with our luggage after we have toured the city. Looking forward to it!
I am thinking that if I had any poetic talent at all I could write a limerick, something like this:
“There once was a girl name Franca
Who wanted to go to Casablanca”
If anybody out there wants to give it a shot, I’ll post it here. I’m just drawing a blank right now. It’s late and I need to go to sleep.