Trixie

...this whole Tangier/Day Trip thing is really bothering me...<BR><BR>My husband is obsessed with the novelty of going to "Africa" acknowledging fully that Tangier is basically going to be no more than the "Tijuana" of Africa. I think our time would be better spent somewhere like Ronda (we are traveling with Malaga as a jump off point), which I only seem to read great things about on this discussion forum and others...maybe I could appease him with Gibraltar?...and seeing the apes and scenery there...?<BR><BR>...I think I will be so nervous about being in Tangier that I couldn't even appreciate the place for what it is...<BR><BR>help?...should I try harder to dissuade my husband from the day trip to Tangier?...or give in?...<BR><BR>Thanks<BR> -T

elvira

I don't think Tangier is the best look at Morocco - it is an ugly port city, full of touts. It's not a good sell for the country at all.<BR><BR>I'm afraid you'll go, say "yuck" and never return. Morocco is a wonderful country, so plan that trip for another time because you need to go to Marrakech and Fez and Chefchouan and... to really fall in love with this wonderful country. Don't cheat yourself; stay in Spain.

cb

I agree with Elvira. Between the 2, Gibraltar is a better choice. But there's so much to see in Spain; skip Gibraltar . You are right; Ronda and that area is worth seeing. Save Morocco for another trip and see the best it offers .

Maribel

Trixie,<BR>Skip both Tangier (which you'll probably both hate) and Gibraltar; there's plenty of beauty to explore for many, many days in Andalucia.<BR>

adams

Yes, I can say I've been in Africa, but we hated the day trip to Tangier. The street vendors are particularly annoying, and extremely persistent. They followed our tour bus everywhere. We thought Gibralta fun, Ronda great, enjoyed the Alhambra.

Kris

Trixie, I had the same problem with my husband, no warnings/bad feedback were going to deter him from going. So we went on one of the organized bus trips and wasted a day there.<BR><BR>If you do have to go, I would suggest one of the organized excursions. I never felt unsafe while I was there as they didn't really allow you to wander too far from the group. But it really was the most uninteresting place we've been and a huge tourist trap.<BR><BR>I actually liked Gibraltar. I enjoyed the cable car ride up the rock and seeing the apes and wandering around the town but it isn't on my must see list in that area. I would recommend Ronda, Granada, etc. before I would recommend Gibraltar.<BR><BR>Maybe you could appease him with the promise of a trip to Morocco some other time. I've heard wonderful things about other places in Morocco.

joe

Why do we travel?Don't miss the chance to experience a vastly different culture. Go prepared,yeah the touts are annoying, ignore them. Don't take a tour.Take the ferry and walk up the hill into the old city. I promise you it will be an experience you will remember the rest of your life.

Ursula

Trixie: Morocco is a wonderful country. Cities like Marrakech, Fez, Rabbat, Meknes, Ouarzate , Chefchouan , Essaouira, Tetouan, Zagora, even Agadir for a beach holiday in winter, etc.. But forget about Tangier. Not worth it, really.

Ursula

Sorry, that should be "Ouarzazate".

trixie

thanks for the help...I am going to see what i can do to change the Tangier portion of our trip and save exploring Morocco for another time...<BR><BR>(wish me luck!)<BR><BR>...trixie

Maira

Elvira is soooo right. Tangier completely wiped out the desire of ever stepping back in Morocco. I know this is wrong, totally, completely. I can't shake it, though. I was harrased horribly by a merchant's helper determined to sell me some piece of clothing I had glanced at briefly. He chased me and it only got worse when two other merchants came to my help and beat him up mercilessly in front of me. I was horrified. <BR><BR>It would only be fair to mention that a visit to the medina was interesting and I came back with a deep apreciation of running water and a roof over my head. People appeared to be very hard-working and kind. I felt sorry for this particular man who obviously didn't know how to take no for an answer.<BR><BR>All in all, Tangier is not the nicest city/port. I wouldn't bother, specially, in light of recent events. Just the customs scared enough of me. I can't even imagine these days.

lynn

Hi Trixie:<BR>I must say although you have made up your mind I have to reinforce what everyone else has already said. Tangier is not the real Morocco. I have travelled twice to this beautiful country (both times while in spain I might add, but we had longer than a day to give to the visit to Morocco.) We love everything about it.<BR>The one poster mentioned the town of Chefchouan......this is one of those places that rank at the top of those wonderful, memorable moments of our travelling life. It's a small hill town and the first night we spent there )our first in Morocco) we had retired to bed early when we heard the muezzin in his tower calling the people to prayer(I had never heard anything so compelling in my life) and then we heard music coming through the streets getting closer and closer to our hotel. We got out of bed and watched an evening wedding procession wind it's way through the streets of the town. <BR>We found it all so charming and beautiful and Real!<BR>So keep it in the back of your mind to visit Morocco one day. The other cities are mesmerising..Fes was my favourite.<BR>Enjoy Andalucia, it's wonderful too.<BR>Regards,<BR>Lynn