7 April 2023

Today was our final Across Africa Tour for this cruise.  We took several Across Africa tours on this cruise and thought they were a good value. However, please consider that tours in Africa are subject to many factors and calibrate your expectations that there will likely be some changes and deviations from the published itinerary.  If you are disappointed by any program changes, you should stick to Tours By Locals or other higher-cost operators.

The ship arrived around 7 AM, and we were cleared a little before 8 AM.

Our tour meeting place was “outside the gate.”  As it turned out, there are two gates.  One gate is about 100 yards from the ship, while the other is about 3/4 miles away.  We learned later that tour operators must get a special pass (at some extra expense and hassle) to enter the outer port gate.  Some tours do, and some don’t.  This is something to nail down when arranging your tour – don’t settle for “we’ll meet you outside the gate”.  Ask them if they have a permit to pass the port gate and get closer to the ship.

Jamal was our guide, and Richard was our driver.

As we headed north toward our first stop at Cape Spartel.  We drove thru rolling hills, with green lawns and trees lining the roadway, which was very different from our previous stops in Morocco.

CAPE SPARTEL

Cape Spartel marks the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.  We stopped here for about 10 minutes to enjoy the view and take photos of the lighthouse.  On a clear day, you could see Spain, about twenty miles across the Strait of Gibraltar.

CAVES OF HERCULES

Ten minutes later, we arrived in the parking lot of the Le Mirage Hotel, which is adjacent to the Caves of Hercules.  The caves derive their name from the legendary Greek hero, Hercules, who is believed to have rested here during his epic twelve labors.  Admission was $1, which was included in the price of our tour.  The caves were carved out of solid limestone by underground rivers over centuries. The result is a fantastic maze of tunnels and caverns with crystal-clear water, eerie lighting, and interesting rock formations.  At one end of the caves is a large opening that is supposed to resemble the outline of the continent of Africa.  A permanent local guide inside explains various features as you move about.  He also took pictures with our phones of our profiles with the profile of ‘Hercules’ created by the side of the cave opening.  As we left, he stood at the entrance where we could give him a small tip.  We were here for about 15 minutes.

CAMELS ON THE BEACH

As we headed back toward town, we passed by a beach with a small herd of camels and their handlers.  We were offered the opportunity to stop and get a camel ride for anyone interested.  My sister, Cindy, wanted to ride a camel, and she paid $10 for a few minute’s ride on a camel named Nadia.  This was cheaper than the $15 I spent in Agadir, and this setting on the beach was much nicer than the open field in Agadir.

KASBAH OF TANGIER

We arrived back in Tangier and continued our tour on foot, heading to the Kasbah of Tangier.  The Kasbah is a fortified structure perched on a hill that offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s ancient heritage.  Originally built as a strategic stronghold, the Kasbah boasts a fusion of architectural styles, reflecting the influences of Arab, Berber, and European cultures.  We walked in through an entrance, or gate, called Bab Kasbah and followed our guide, Jamal, thru the narrow streets.  After about 45 minutes of exploring, we came across another Kasbah gate called Bab Al Bahr or the “Gateway to the Sea”.  We passed through the gate and enjoyed a spectacular view of Tangier, the harbor, and the Zuiderdam off in the distance.

MEDINA

The old Arab quarter of Tangier, or Medina, was our next stop.  The HAL shuttle bus will drop you inside the Medina, near the Mandoubia Garden.  From here, you can explore the maze of narrow streets with various shops and restaurants.  If you are in the mood for a walk, you could head downhill as you explore and walk back to the ship, about 1.5 miles.

AMERICAN LEGATION

Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States as an independent county in 1777.  A legation is a step down from an Embassy. The American Legation building was given to the US by the Sultan of Morocco, where it served as a diplomatic post for 140 years until 1956 when the capital of Morocco moved to Rabat.  The building is still owned by the US Government but is rented and managed by the Tangier American Legation Society and used as a museum and cultural center.  We spent about 30 minutes here exploring the various rooms before returning to our van to return to the ship.

Upon our return to the port, we hoped we might be able to get thru the outer gate, but alas, we had to get out where we were picked up and walk the 3/4 mile back to the ship.

We departed Tangier at 5 PM and enjoyed Moroccan Pita & Dip at the Sail Away Party.