Tangier -

In some places, the countryside was quite beautiful. In many places, though, things were run down. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:06:42 AM

Inside the Caves of Hercules, which open into the Atlantic Ocean - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:19:11 AM

The Atlantic crashing into the caves - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:19:35 AM

aae - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:19:55 AM

aaf - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:20:04 AM

Our tour guide, wearing traditional dress. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:21:38 AM

aah - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:22:04 AM

aai - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:22:30 AM

The caves showed no stalactites or stalagmites because rock was mined from the caves to use as mill stones. There seemed to be street vendors every 5 feet in & around the caves selling assorted souvenirs - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:23:00 AM

Round sections removed from cave ceiling, used for mill stones - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:23:41 AM

Camels in the parking lot at the caves; we decided against paying for a camel ride around the parking lot. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:26:18 AM

Moroccan beach - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:33:15 AM

Michele at Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic & Mediterranean meet - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:36:12 AM

Looking up into the mountains above Cap Spartel - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:37:00 AM

Joel at the cape - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:37:54 AM

Views from the cape - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:40:11 AM

The mountains above the cape - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:41:53 AM

"Umbrella" pine trees in the countryside. These trees grow only in Mediterranean regions. The canopy of the aptly-named umbrella tree looks remarkably like an umbrella. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 10:47:33 AM

Around the city of Tangier - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:04:07 AM

Around town - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:04:16 AM

aav - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:08:55 AM

Small sign at the entrance to the Kasbah, the walled portion of the old city. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:10:39 AM

Moorish arch within the kasbah - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:11:00 AM

The streets of the kasbah are narrow and winding. It's a miracle anyone can find their way around the maze of tiny streets. If we weren't with a guide, I'm sure we'd still be there, wandering around looking for the boat. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:12:26 AM

Some of the boat people in the streets of the kasbah - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:12:44 AM

aba - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:14:45 AM

abb - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:14:54 AM

abc - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:16:07 AM

abd - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:16:50 AM

Michele near a doorway - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:17:50 AM

Walking along the kasbah wall - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:18:43 AM

abg - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:19:41 AM

abh - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:20:05 AM

Entrance to the kasbah musuem. Unfortunately, the musem was closed on Tuesdays, so we didn't get to see the inside of the museum. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:21:24 AM

abj - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:21:42 AM

abk - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:22:38 AM

abl - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:22:44 AM

abm - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:24:05 AM

Honest to goodness, this guy was a snake charmer! He kept the black cobra in the little blue wooden box. When he took the cobra out, the guys with drums started to play, and the guy in green taunted and danced with the cobra. We couldn't believe our ey - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:29:46 AM

abo - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:29:54 AM

Nothing in this world could get me to do that. Nothing. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:30:00 AM

abq - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:30:04 AM

After the cobra was put back in its box, a second, harmless snake was pulled out for pictures with tourists. Notice there are no pictures of the snake with Michele or Joel. No freakin' way. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:31:00 AM

abs - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:33:30 AM

Ourside the walls of the kasbah - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:35:49 AM

A small city of TV antennas on top of some apartment buildings - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:36:35 AM

There was a LOT of trash outside the city walls - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:36:52 AM

abw - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:37:06 AM

abx - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:37:15 AM

There was a bit of a breeze outside the walls by the ocean, which made Joel happy. The "local color" inside the city was fascinating, but at times... smelly. The fresh air was nice. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:37:30 AM

abz - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:38:43 AM

aca - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:39:30 AM

acb - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:39:38 AM

Glass insulators on the exterior wiring of a building. This was a common sight. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:40:08 AM

Intricate tile work by the entrance to this apartment - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:40:43 AM

Bird cage in the window of an apartment - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:40:49 AM

Narrow streets of the kasbah - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:41:16 AM

acg - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:41:21 AM

Morocco was ruled by the French for ~45 years in the 20th century. Street signs are in both Arabic and French. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:42:12 AM

aci - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:43:03 AM

acj - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:44:00 AM

Bread cart outside the neighborhood communal bakery/oven - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:44:11 AM

A local man making bread at the communal bakery - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:44:22 AM

acm - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:45:33 AM

acn - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:45:46 AM

aco - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:46:01 AM

acp - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:46:34 AM

Shops in the narrow streets of the old town - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:47:05 AM

More shops - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:49:27 AM

I could actually read this sign, so I took a picture of it - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:51:13 AM

act - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:52:45 AM

acu - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:53:33 AM

acv - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:54:05 AM

acw - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:55:28 AM

Hookahs and who-knows-what-else were for sale in many shop windows - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:56:11 AM

A sidewalk cafe (plus another tourist from our boat taking a picture) - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:56:39 AM

Joel outside a cafe. - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:57:10 AM

ada - Tue 19 Sep 2006 11:57:23 AM

Coca-cola markets in every corner of the globe. -

Tiny shops like this one are common in Tangier. Goods were stacked from floor to ceiling, and occasionally even hung from the ceiling and spilled out into the street. -

Tiny clothing shop -

Joel does not look like a local. No one from our boat would have ever been mistaken for a local in Tangier. Never. -

adf -

The American Legation Museum is located on Rue d'Amerique (American Street) -

A window of the American Legation Museum -

Morocco was the first country to officially recognize America's independence from Britain. This is the document that first recognized the United States. -

The American Legation Museum in Tangier is the only American National Landmark located outside of the United States. -

Inside the American Legation -

Inside the American Legation -

Hand carved door inside the American Legation -

In this letter, dated 1839, an American diplomat living in Tangier writes to Washington to explain he tried, but was unsuccessful in refusing the king's gift of 2 lions. -

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Still inside the American Legation. -

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Looking down into the center courtyard of the American Legation -

ads -

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Beautiful carved door in the American Legation -

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Tiled stairway in the American Legation museum -

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Chandelier in a museum hallway -

aeb -

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Tile floor in one of the rooms of the musuem -

aee -

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Orange tree in a pot in the museum courtyard -

Different types of tile and stone in the entrance to a room off the courtyard of the museum -

aek -

Crumbling exterior of a building in the old city -

Store front in the gold district. Gold jewely is priced first by the ounce, then an additional cost for the craftsmanship. The window on the left showcases gold belts, which are purchased as dowries. -

More jewelry and gold belts in the gold district -

Locals shopping in the old town -

aep -

A square outside the kasbah -

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Moroccan dentist -

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Carpet shop in the new town (outside the walls of the old city) -

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Our tour of Tangier ended at the beautiful El Minzah Hotel, where we enjoyed traditional hot mint tea, fresh squeezed orange juice, and heavenly pastries. -