My name is Marion Vermazen. I am a traveler, hiker, reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, YouTuber, Spanish and French language student, knitter, weaver and genealogist.
Author: marionvermazen
I am a traveler, hiker, avid reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, Spanish and French language student, knitter and genealogist. I am retired after working for almost 30 years in the Computer Industry. I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband Duke.
This morning from window of our room in Ceuta, Spain there was a beautiful view of the Rock of Gibraltar across the straight.
The Rock of Gibraltar in the distance
After breakfast we walked around the square outside the Parador. Then we caught a taxi to the border.
The square in front of the Parador
We walked across the border into Morocco and got a second taxi to take us back to our rental car.
Crossing the border
The town on the other side of the border is Fnideq. From there we drove south about an hour to the town of Chefchaouen where we are staying at Puerta Azul Hotel
We had tea while we were being checked inOur room at Puerta Azul
Later we hiked up through the Medina to a viewpoint overlooking the town.
Shops in the MedinaHiking up the trailView of the town from the trailAt the top
On our way back to the hotel we stopped and had dinner on the roof of a restaurant called Bab Ssour
SaladChicken tagine
After dinner Duke got a $5 haircut.
Duke in the barber shop before the haircutDuke after the haircut playing cards in Brian and Jo Ann’s room.
This morning when we left Tangier we took a beautiful drive along The coast south and west of Tangier.
This is the lighthouse at Cape Spartel. It was built in the 1860sNear the entry to Hercules Cave where part of the Hercules legend was set
Then we headed east to Ceuta. Although Ceuta is on the Moroccan coast of Africa it is a part of Spain.
As we approached Ceuta we saw an absolutely enormous Container port. The biggest I have ever seen. There were at least 40 big container loading cranes.
There were probably 8 or 10 groups of cranes like thisCeuta from above.
We couldn’t take our rental car out of Morocco so we parked it and took a cab to the border crossing.
Looking for a place in Fnideq , Morocco to park the car
After walking through the border control check points we caught a Spanish cab to the Parador of Ceuta.
Waiting at the Spanish entry windowChecking in at the Parador of CeutaThe Rock of Gibraltar from our room
Later we walked through Ceuta. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising but Ceuta is strikingly European as compared to just across the border.
The Ceuta Cathedral, the first church we have seen in a week. Out for a walk
We had dinner at the Parador
This fish is biting its own tail Dukes cake with Carmel sauce
This morning after breakfast we packed up and walked to the car. The helpful guy who seemed to be in charge of parking directed us out of our parking spot and we drove to the Hassan Tower and Masoleum of Mohammed V.
Jo Ann’s fruit and veggies. The rest of us had fruit, yogurt, eggs, baguettes, bread and juice.Directing us out of our parking spotInside the Masoleum Outside the Hassan Tower and the Masoleum
We lucked out and found a parking spot right in front of the Hassan Tower. But after we left there we tried to find a parking place not too far from the Royal palace. We couldn’t find one and it was raining so we decided to just start our drive to Tangier.
The drive was all toll road and in a few hours we were at our hotel, Pestana City Center, Tangier. We checked in then went into the Medina to visit the American Delegation Museum. Morocco and the U.S. have the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history. the museum is in the original Legation building. I especially liked the World War II section of the museum.
Part of the World War II section of the American Legation museum in Tangier
After visiting the museum we had coffee at a sidewalk cafe.
Coffee in the Medina
For dinner we walked to a waterfront restaurant, Mesana. On the way it started to rain heavily. We sheltered under an overhang until it let up.
Pouring rain
At Mesana we had by far the best meal of our trip so far. And the service was exceptional. We felt special. If you are ever in Tangier I would highly recommend Mesana.
Our vegetable soupDuke’s squidCheesecake for desert.
On the way back to the hotel the rain had stopped.
Last night we were in the High Atlas Mountains. Today we drove the farthest we have driven so far, almost five hours. We drove out of the mountains north to the Atlantic coast, to Rabat, the capital of Morocco.
On the road to Rabat. There are 2 levels of sheep in that pickup!Stork nests on a cell phone tower
When we got to Rabat we found parking on a side street and the parking guy led us to Riad Almazhar.
The guy leading the way to the Riad AlmahzarChecking inOur room at Riad Almahzar
Then we went for a walked and stopped for coffee in the Kasbah.
Coffee overlooking the Bou Regreg River
For dinner we walk about twenty minutes to a restaurant called Le Petitbeur. Duke and I had what was probably the best meal of the trip so far. We shared a roast leg of lamb.
Demnat where we were last night used to have a large Jewish population. Apparently in the 1940s and 1950s most of them migrated to Israel. The place where we stayed, Kasbah Ait Oumghar, must have been owned by some of these people at some point. The picture below is of the railing on the internal balcony.
Railing
When we were ready to leave this morning our host encouraged us to walk up the road a bit to see the natural bridge. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a road go over a natural arch before.
You can’t see the other side from here but this is one side of the natural archA closer view of the entrance to the arch
From Demnat we drove to Ouzoud Falls. The falls are the second highest falls in Africa. We hiked down to the bottom. We also got to see monkeys on the way.
Ouzoud FallaBrian with one of the monkeys
Tonight we are staying at Widiane Resort on the edge of Bin El-Ouidane reservoir. The resort is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately the reservoir is very low.
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