Day 11 - Tangier  5/21/22

Morocco

Frank's Trip

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Tangier...

Instead of the typical Morocco which is French and Arabic in language, Tangier adds some Spanish to the mix... not enough to be of much help to me, though.

From 1924 through 1956 Tangier was the center of an International Zone with special status lasting until April 1960. Surrounded on the land side by the Spanish protectorate in Morocco, it was governed under a complex system that involved various European nations, the United States, and the Sultan of Morocco, himself under French protectorate. Tangier has a more international flavor than other parts of Morocco.

Place du 9 Avril 1947 / Grand Socco

This plaza is in the center of Tangier, bordering between the old walled city/medina and the newer part of town. The term, socco is a Spanish corruption of the Arabic souq (or souk). The event that took place on 9 April and which gave the name to one of the main squares in Tangier is that on that day in 1947 Mohammed V (grandfather of the country’s current king) went there and claimed the independence of the northern provinces and the reunification of the Kingdom of Morocco.

This is a great area to visit! Across the street is an entrance to the Old Medina. The park is centered on the large and refreshing fountain and provides seating in sun and shade where one can rest a moment or stay awhile and watch the many people come and go. The buildings and areas surrounding it are wonderful in their diversity.

Cinema Rif

The Cinema Rif originally opened in 1938. It is in the Grand Socco, just outside the walls of the Old Medina. It is a restored art deco building. It was most recently restored as an arts complex. It is a combination art-house cinema, cafe and archive. The cinema shows mainstream and indie films from America, Morocco, France and Spain. The foreign films have subtitles usually in French and/or Arabic.

St Andrews Church

The cornerstone for the new Church of St. Andrews was laid in the year 1894 and the church was consecrated in 1905. It is a church that was well documented, as services registers between the years 1885 to 1991 and even the accounting books for the years 1882 to 1926 are still in existence. There is also a very old graveyard on the property - just barely visible in one of the pictures are a couple markers. Unfortunately it now seems quite unkempt and closed up.

Le Jardin do la Mendoubia

This large park meanders down a hill just beyond the Place du 9 Avril 1947. Near the bottom of the hill and off to the side is the former residence of the Mendoub - the Sultan's representative on the governing commission during the international years. It is fully gated and difficult to view at all.

Gran Cafe du Paris

Gran Cafe de Paris is one of the oldest cafes in Tangier and is part of Tangier’s bohemian history. The cafe opened in 1927 and was a place of inspiration for many known artists and writers like Jack Kerouac, William Burrough, Paul Bowles and Tennessee Williams – just to name a few – to gather here, have a coffee, smoke a cigarette and discuss life and literature.The interior of the cafe has a peculiar atmosphere. Strange how inspiring the old leather of the chairs, the dark paneled walls, the stale smell of cheap tobacco and the rustling sound of newspapers can be.

The staff is VERY, VERY FUSSY about taking pictures inside. They stopped me twice... but I was fast enough to get a few shots.

ABOVE:
A discreet side entrance to the Gran Cafe

LEFT and RIGHT:
Pictures taken outside are just fine... a 'no-no' inside.

Place Faro / Sour Meegazine

It's a very beautiful park and promenade with a view of the Mediterranean. A number of old cannons that were used to protect the city of Tangier from the sea attacks is displayed at the top. The garden is below Sour Meegazine. It has been for a long time the meeting place of friends and especially lovers in Tangier.