In Tangier for a Morocco Conclusion
The group has made it to cosmopolitan Tangier on the Atlantic Coast and astride the Strait of Gibraltar--less than 20 miles from Europe. This will draw an end to the African portion of the semester before the students make the symbolic crossing into Spain.
The group ate lunch today at "Darna", a restaurant rehabilitator for dispossessed Moroccan women, and will enjoy some mint tea overlooking the ocean at the famed ex-Beat hangout of Cafe Hafa.
Because of its strategic location, Tangier attracted the interest of many western powers and was deemed an "International Zone" in the 20th century, with several countries establishing a presence (and profiting from banking) before Morocco gained independece in 1956. Tangier's unusual status also made it a magnet for hedonists, con artists, exiles, and artists seeking inspiration on the African continent. The American Beat writers were especially drawn to Tangier's libertine ambience with Alan Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs spending time here. Tangier also became the adopted home of the late great American author, Paul Bowles, most famous for his existential novel, "The Sheltering Sky." Today, Tangier is undergoing a makeover, with significant investments in its tourism and trade infrastructure: plans are to re-introduce Tangier as a major resort rivaling Spain's Costa del Sol while also transforming its port facilities into one of Africa's largest.
Alex