Dilapidated grandeur of Tangier
Tangier needs a new coat paint. Every building seems a bit run down, overworked from the year of housing wild fun of the international zone years. The medina is distinct from any that we saw in Morocco, the medina has buildings with Spanish type architecture or a Catholic church. The Anglican church of St. Andrew outside the old medina has a particularly interesting look. It was a gift to the queen in the in the late 1800's, I think 1883, but the design of the church is very Arab. The ceiling over the alter is the traditional woodcarvings with zoic patterns. Plaster carvings frame the alter with Arabic calligraphy. The Lord's Prayer is in Arabic script. The steeple is square, like a minaret, with zelig patterns on each side. Also in Tangier we visited the American Legation, a US Department of State property. This palace was a gift to the US from the sultan of Morocco in c. 1831. The Legation is currently a museum to Moroccan-US relations and displays artwork of Moroccans and European or Americans with a connection to Tangier. It also has a library open to Moroccans studying English and gives literacy lessons to local women. There is a tribute to Paul Bowles and some lovely Berber rugs.
Tangier was our last taste of Morocco. I already miss greeting Moroccans with Salom, Labaas, Kulshi bixir, hamdu'allah. I wish to return one day soon insh'allah. Only a days travel from the US and I am in an immensely different culture. I know the medina of Fes better than any city in the world. I hope that Morocco is somewhere in my future.