Tangier is such an interesting city. We learned that the city was ignored by the previous King for over 30 years because he didn't like it, but that it is now gettingattention from the new King. The city has a romantic quality that is hard to describe and not evident at first glance. The first few hours we were here I had great regrets, feeling that the city was not safe for our family. I am now so grateful that we stayed almost a week and experienced what Tangier is all about. As we watch the groups of tourists that come for just a few hours, I feel sorry for them because they willmiss out on what we now have. The people here are kind and peaceful, even when they are hounding you to visit their shop or buy their goods. The calls to prayer and drumming in the middle of the night during Rhamadan are different and wonderful. We think the nightly drumming marks the time to eat and the time to fast, but we are not sure.
Today we visited the Minzah Hotel - built in the 1930s, it feels like you are stepping back in time. We ate club sandwiches on the patio overlooking the pool, being served by waiters in white dinner jackets and perfect manners. The Hotel has had many famous visitors -
Rock Hudson, Rita Hayworth, Aristotle Onassis - back in the time when Tangier was glitzy and international travel was a mark of sophistication
and wealth. The Minzah is another one of the many surprises you can find in Tangier.
We will miss this interesting city and Dar Nour, Saed, our new French friend Phillipe (cousin Richard's twin) and the resident chamelions - M.C. and Mojito. There is a lot of new development going on in Tangier - we hope to return someday to see what the city becomes in its next transformation.
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