Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco

A trip from March 24 through April 12, 2008

Gibraltar
	When we got to the Rock of Gibraltar, the best choice was to walk across the border from Spain into Great Britain. It was pretty casual, but the border police were very touchy about photos. I was out of their sight when I took this one, and they are not visible, either. This was part of Spain under the Romans, the Moors and the Catholic monarchs, but it was captured by the Dutch and British during the War of Spanish Succession, and formally ceded to the British in 1713. The most iconic view of the Rock of Gibraltar is from the sea, and we didn't approach that way.
	The Moorish Castle may date to the 8th century, but most of what we see today was probably built in about 1068. This portion is called the Tower of Homage, and it overlooks the land approach to the Rock of Gibraltar.
	That shadow above Janet's head is Africa, the north coast of Morocco. This was a hint that Morocco was going to be more mountainous than we had expected.
	The Rock of Gibraltar is limestone, and limestone and water always make caves. This is known as St. Michael's cave. It was known to the Romans, but not by that name. While this room was prepared for use as a hospital during WW2, it was not needed. Now it is fitted out as a concert hall, probably with very unusual acoustics.
	Spain's principal Mediterranean port, Algeciras, is across the bay from Gibraltar. Algeciras was founded by the Moors in 713, captured by Alphonso XI (a Christian) in 1344, then recaptured (1368) by the Moors and subsequently destroyed. The city was refounded by Gibraltar Spanish when they were kicked out of Gibraltar by the Dutch and English in 1704. Franco did a lot to develop this city as a sea port.
	The Barbary apes are really macaques, monkeys without tails. About 230 live high on the Rock of Gibraltar, and they are well beyond approachable. They are really happy to jump on your back, lap, head, whatever.
Tanger
	Our host in Morocco was the Center for Cross Cultural Learning. When we got off the ferry, we were welcomed at a restaurant with music, tea and Moroccan pastries. That made a good start. One member of our party, Mickey, joined in the entertainment.
	It was here that we started to learn that each historic city has its medina, meaning a walled city. This is the entrance to the Tanger medina.
	Most of the medinas had streets which were too narrow for automobiles, but not necessarily for motorcycles, and certainly not to narrow for donkeys. More about that later.
	Another cultural surprise concerned saints. In Morocco, there is a custom to recognize saints in both Islam and Judaism. This was the home of Islamic saint in Tanger, and its facade is clearly much more colorful than the normal front door.
	After leaving Tanger, we stopped at a country market. Everything was for sale. From here, you can see tomatoes, potatoes and cabbage. What you can't see is all the clothing, car parts and electronics. Note the woman in the center. She is a member of a farming clan, and all the women dress in a similar way.

Back to Seville

Forward to Chefchaouen