TANGIER MOROCCO

TANGIER MOROCCO

I have finally made up my mind on what to do or where to start my Morocco trip, I am going to spend a couple of nights in Tanger or Tangiers and the spelling changes according the language. The main reason is because all of the traveler and the guidebook more or less says not to go, and that means to me this place is unique and the culture is maybe off the wall. It is a border town in a way and I like the clash of culture, plus it is suppose to be full of African waiting to jump to Europe. All this together makes for a fun time, I am only looking or trying to figure out how to get a shower because the guidebook is terrible and it does not seem to be standard that there is a shower in the Hotel. If the guidebook had standard listing of sort that sa id, with or without shower then I could be sure, but the guidebook writer I am reading in the Lonely Planet seems to be out to lunch. Funny how the writer will vary from country to country, my gut reaction is this rented a car and stayed in nice places, not a budget traveler, and is clueless, but that is my thought and I have no proof, but I have read the Lonely Planet for a lot of countries and this one is off the mark.



A CHOICE OF CHEESE

I do not like to eat a restaurants when traveling, but not because of the money, but for sure in Europe I would avoid any restaurant unless the food is uniquely special. The reason I do no like to eat in restaurants is because they make it difficult to figure out what you are eating or you can eat what you know or some Americanized version of something, a.k.a. tourist food like Pizza or just play the lottery food choices, and pretend you like what you are eating. Since I am not one to fake it, better for me to avoid restaurants. What the solution would be for these tourist type restaurants to have nice complete and well explained menus that tell you what is typical, why it is typical, and what is the fashion like vegetarian foods.



What made me realize I do not like the choice is I have been trying to buy cheese here in Tarifa for the last few days, and I have no idea of what type of cheese I am buying. I could pretend I am smart, but why fake it, I am pretty sure I am ten time more aware of the difference of food than the average tourist, and could talk for hours on small subtle difference between cultures, but that is not the point. I try to enjoy my food, know what am eating and only eat in restaurants that are local or serving normal meals of the culture and stay away from theme or fashionably recommended places and try to learn the culture and eat their food. This is very difficult to do as most places are trying to be fashionable because this sells. Beer is the reason people travel and not culture, although beer culture is a type of culture, but I suppose I am talking about customs and habits, architecture and not beer.



ESSAOUIRA

This is the name of a beach city in Morocco, it is the only clear place anyone has recommended to visit in Morocco and many people have recommended I not go to Morocco.



It does not help that two Finland girls went to Morocco a couple of days ago and only stayed one night, then returned to say in the Hostal Facundo. I am not sure what happened, and as normal they will not tell because in my opinion they do not want to appear stupid. Something happened where they thought a man or men were trying to help them and instead it was some form of scam or the men were aggressive to them in a man / woman way.



I am positive they are not happy with the men of Morocco, but I have tried in about six different ways to get them to explain and they are quiet.



I have found that people will not admit or explain when…



1. Their vacation was bad because they spent a lot of money and they will not say they wasted the money.



2. They was scammed or robbed, because they believe only stupid people are robbed. (This tells me they are extremely stupid when they believe this.)



3. They was raped by a man or date raped more likely.

4. They will tell you they was robbed when really they go drunk and lost their bags or money belt, and cannot remember.



So what happens is everything is very great or very bad, some people say how wonderful a place is and other say how poor the place is, and both are exaggerating normally.



I am ready to go and will leave for Tanger tomorrow, but am not sure if I will stay in Tanger or Tangier or catch a bus or train south to warmer weather. I am tempted to go straight to Essaouira so I have a better chance of a good impression so I do not want to leave in two day as winter is just starting and I have no place to go except Morocco.



IF I find a flight to Egypt, Tunisia or Israel that is cheap I may take the easy way out and leave, as so far the route to Algeria seems closed according to friends and the guidebook, but then again they have a 50 / 50 chance of being wrong. It is time to go and stop listening to people, my instincts tell me after reading the Lonely Planet guidebook is that the place is very nice, and the Europe type travelers cannot deal with the normal 80 percent of the planet and require a 5 star hotel to be happy. European backpackers and tourist are not the hardy types, like the South American ones, more of the type that spend all their times worrying about which restaurant to visit and feeling guilty because they feel rich and they believe, (although I would disagree) that the people are poor.