A wet day in Morocco

Saturday April 28th 2012

Breakfast in Algeciras before our boat trip to Morocco. I would soon find out that the sunhat was not going to be needed today.

Finding our boat to Morocco.

Gibraltar in the background as we realize the dolphins were just not going to say hi today.

A wet and windy boat ride south leaving Gibraltar behind.

Definitely a day for sitting inside the boat.

Arrival in Tangers Med, Morocco. Can't remember who touched first - no competition for me!

View of the vast city from the high point of Tangiers - The Star- Nejma.

We hired a guide to take us around. At this point it had fortunately stopped rainning.

Entering the "Caves of Hercules"

The cave looks out onto the Atlantic Ocean, the cave opening at the correct angle looks like an inverted Africa.



Wishing well in the cave.



Everyone's supposed to make a wish.....



..with their hand over their heart while doing so.

When in Rome.

Harry, Billy and Charley in Hercules Cave - called this because it is believed that Hercules slept here before one of his 12 labours.

From the caves to the beach.

The nearest to a rollercoaster ride they got.

Camel on the loose!

They all enjoyed the camel ride.

But they said the camels getting up and down were the best part (rollercoaster ride feeling).

The Wealthy side of Morocco.

The Moroccan Flag.

The minaret (of one of the many mosques) from where the call to prayer is made five times each day: dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night.

Lunch time.

We tried a proper Moroccan meal.....

...with a few western additions.

Enjoyed by all.

After lunch we continued with a walking sightseeing tour...through the medina (old city) of Tangier.

 In 1821 the Sultan Moulay Suliman gave the Tangier American Legation as a gift to the US government and it was the first acquired American public property outside the US.

Current official name is Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies.

Still owned by the USA government, the Tangier American Legation Museum Society rent it. Inculdes a cultural center, museum and a research library.
 American Legation seal is seen above the door.

In the medina we walked down narrow alleys between the houses.

Our walking tour brought us to the Souk where our guide (above) introduced us to Moroccan dessert.

another shop opposite the dessert stall.

The Anglican churth of  St. Andrew's can just be seen in the background.

Historically, Tangiers has experienced many civilizations and cultures. As we walked we were taken past the Jewish quarter, looked at the English and through the Italian.

Italian quarter.

More of the Souk.

What a choice!

More of the Souk

Through the alleys of the medina.

A communal oven.

The Kasbah

Leaving the Kasbah.

Entering the arts and crafts shop as they called it.

Trying to sell us one of their beautiful rugs from the arts and crafts shop.

The boys wanted to show how close the houses were built together.

We visited on a Saturday and both boat journeys were delayed by one hour. We were told that it was like that every Saturday but not sure if it is on time other days. Luckily our guide was still there to meet us but the delayed arrival and the rain which was on and off all day cut our tour short and so we did not get to visit Cap spartel (meeting point of the Atlantic and Mediterranian). I loved hearing that the children learn four languages in school including French, Spanish and English. Imagine that everyone learning four languages and no one there to think it is odd.

A day in Gibraltar

April 27, 2012

Awaiting the bus to go from Algeciras to Linea

Waiting to be allowed to cross the runway to go from Linea, Spain to Gibraltar.

The jet we were waiting for - about to take off.

The Rock of Gibraltar from the airport runway.

We went up to the very top on the cable car. We then walked all day seeing the sights including the monkeys, caves and tunnels and evetually found ourselves back at the bottom.

Gibraltar Harbour with Africa on the distant horizon, Spain on the right with the Straits of Gibraltar in between and eventually the Atlantic Ocean.

Gibraltar Harbour and Spain.

On top of the Rock looking out over the harbour towards Spain.

Charley with the resident Barbary Monkeys.

William, Harry and Charley enjoying the height and view.

Looking south, Mediterranean to the left, Straits of Gibraltar to the right.

Looking north with Spain on the horizon.

The Menkens and a local.

When in Rome do as the ....

What eating each others fleas - I'm not going that far.

The Gibraltar Harbour from the very top.

The Mediterranean side of the rock.

Barbary Macaques

Lunch away from the Monkeys.

Looking south on the Mediterranean side.

The Barbary Macaques were everywhere at the top.

Alboran and the Mediterranean Seas

The four Menken boys and one map.

Taking in the view as we walked down towards St. Michael's cave.

We enjoyed the walk without the crowds as most others took a minibus tour.

Entering  St. Michael's Cave.

Both Stalagmites and Stalactites

Used as a hospital during WWII, now this main area of St. Michael's cave is an auditorium.

Stalagmite or Stalactite how did it start?

The Gibraltar Candytuft is endemic to Gibraltar - only place in Europe where it grows in the wild.

Gibraltar Harbour with Algerciras, Spain on the horizon.

Waiting for their parents on the walk down the rock.

Views from further down the rock.

Easyjet Taking off.

 Inside the Great Siege Tunnels

View of the airport runway and Spain from a tunnel window.

 The Moorish Castle first built in 1160  

Approaching the town square at the bottom again.

Finally back at the bottom waiting for the rest of us.

Restaurant in Casemates Square

Quenching our great thirst after a long walk down.

Waiting for the bus back to Alegeciras.

A great sunny day in Gibraltar had by all. I loved hearing that all the children learn both English and Spanish in school. Imagine that - learning two languages to fluency without a fight!