After DC, my initial goal in Morocco was to get a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Europe. This one-hour trip marked the end of my journey in the country. It took me over two months to tick off this bucket list. In hindsight, my first time on the continent stretched my perspectives and adaptability to the challenges.
There are several operators to get you to the other side of the Sea. I chose AML because of its departure time at noon. The apartment wasn’t too far from Port de Tanger Ville. I walked there two and a half hours earlier, as usual for an international trip, to find that it was too early. All the passengers at the port were for the previous ferry. When they all had embarked, the port lobby was cleared except for the lone traveller. Once the gate was opened, I went through security and passport control with much less hassle than flying.
9:33 am
10:03 am
11:05 am
11:54 am
11:57 am
12:05 pm
12:11 pm
12:19 pm
After boarding and storing the luggage, I checked out the cabin. It was too cozy for a one-hour trip, to be honest. I meant sailing 32 km through the Strait on the vessel was quite enjoyable! In the middle of the sea, it was hard to distinguish the Mediterranean coasts, either the African or European side. But as the boat was approaching Puerto de Tarifa, the Spanish urban landscape pronounced that you weren’t in Morocco anymore.
12:36 pm
12:58 pm
1:03 pm
1:08 pm
1:13 pm
The journey continued in Spain. A free service bus got me from Tarifa to Algeciras (24 km). Then I took a bus to the final destination, Málaga (138 km), before sunset.
1:25 pm
1:33 pm
2:35 pm
4:27 pm
6:27 pm
That was it, I had crossed borders by sea and ended my first journey in Africa. I tried something different in those two months in Morocco, staying in several cities: a month in Casablanca, a month in Marrakech, and twelve days in Tangier. From the peaceful Atlantic coast to semi-desert heat and Mediterranean rain. The cities have their unique vibes. For example, the medina (old walled city) emphasised their own identity: white, pink, and blue in Casablanca, Marrakech, and Chefchaouen, respectively.
Throughout the country, their craftsmanship shone out the most. Whether through their tilings, metalwork, carpets, woodcarvings, etc. I was mesmerised by their geometric motif and designs. Genuine street art.
Another consistency was the terrific local foods. As I learned in a cooking class, Moroccan cuisine wasn’t divided into regions. You can find similar menus anywhere, but they may differ in the ingredients. My usual dishes were various meats in tagine, couscous Friday, eggs with khlii for breakfast, and simple seafood dishes (grilled or fried) with harissa.
And of course, mint tea is ingrained in the culture. Because of the norms, access to alcohol is limited. That turned out to be a break for me. I embraced it and ended up sober after recovery from the heat fever.
Speaking of health activities, I signed up with a gym chain that I could use throughout the country. But their gyms were below par. Therefore, exercise motivation was low. However, it balanced out with the less alcohol I drank during the stay.
Along the way, I learned to adapt to each environment. I will always remember the tranquility and ease that Casablanca comforted me after a mental hurdle in DC, a shifted perspective about begging culture in Marrakech, and sobriety in Tangier. This won’t be my last time in Africa. But another new setting just started in Europe, on my second time in Spain. It’s Málaga this time.
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