Morocco: Culture & Ecology, Fall 2007

Salam from Tangier. This morning we took a beautiful bus ride through the Rif mountains to arrive at the port city of Tangier. After exploring the Petite and Grand Soco. We had a tour of the American Legation, which houses many fascinating pieces revealing the intersections throughout history between these two culture. Afterwards, we had an engaging lecture about Tangier in the 20th Century. Topics discussed included Tangier's history as an international zone, the numerous poets, writers, and artists who sought inspiration in this city, as well as more pressing issues such as immigration. At the beginning of the 20th Century, Tangier was home to 20,000 Muslims, 10,000 Jews, and 9,000 Europeans and was a thriving example of coexistance and tolerance. Although many of the Jews and Europeans have left now, the remnants of this mutli-ethnic and religious site are still evident. Tomorrow we will explore several museums, mosques, churches, as well as take some time to stroll the seaside boulevard. Tomorrow afternoon we will hear lecture on Rif Culture. On Sunday, we will head to Cap Spartel and Hercules’ Cave and embrace our last day in Morocco before heading off to Spain on Monday.