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Tangier Local Customs

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Tangier Local Customs

Moroccan coast near Caves of Hercules - Tangier

Moroccan coast near Caves of Hercules
by dlytle

Learn the local customs of Tangier. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Tangier locals.

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Tangier Local Customs

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	WHAT IS COUSCOUS??? Tip Rating:

Updated By LoriPori on October 10, 2007

Tangier Page by LoriPori

A dish of Couscous

by LoriPori

After having a meal of Couscous at the Typical Moroccan Restaurant, I was curious. WHAT IS COUSCOUS?.
Couscous is a coarsely ground Semolina Pasta. The grain is a staple in many North African countries. It is traditionally served under a meat or vegetable stew. Couscous is often referred to as Moroccan, but it is equally a dish in Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.
The term comes from Berber languages where it is called Seksou. In Arabic it is Kuskusu.
I have to say, that it was not my favourite dish. I guess it is an acquired taste, especially when you add in the spices, like saffron and cumin.

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	Bonjour monsieur; Ça va? Tip Rating:

Updated By matcrazy1 on June 29, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

BONJOUR MONSIEUR; ÇA VA?
:-)

by matcrazy1

Whenever I met any kid or young teenager in off the beaten path part of the Tangier's medina I was welcomed with a smile and the French words: "Bonjour monsieur; Ça va?". Always! Some, better educated kids, added English "hello".

Usually they followed us for some time even if we ignored them. Some of them wanted either to take them a photo by my camera or just money. The most known English phrase of Tangier's kids - in pre-Euro times was, in full version: "Sir, give me one dollar, please". Generally, it didn't work that way in other Moroccan cities.

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	Languages and wires Tip Rating:

Updated By matcrazy1 on June 29, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

STREET NAMES IN TANGIER'S
MEDINA

by matcrazy1

The street names are always written in both Arabic language and French language in Morocco. In Tangier they are often written in Spanish or Portuguese as well which reflects the past rulers of the city. Most locals who didn't work for tourists, I was talking to, could speak better or worse French. Few knew English, Spanish or Portuguese.

There is unbelievable chaotic tangle of various, both electric and phone, wires going in each direction on a wall of many houses in the medina. I can only imagine what happens in case of any failure or damage.

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	Typical top of the minaret Tip Rating:

Updated By matcrazy1 on June 29, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

TOP OF THE MINARET OF
MOSQUE SIDI BOU ABIB

by matcrazy1

There are very few muslim mosques in my country, Poland, and none in the area I live. So, it was very interesting for me to see many of them at my first day in Morocco, just in Tangier. Unfortunatelly, all of them were closed for me as a non-muslim.

I surely first paid attention to tall minarets that is thin towers on or near a mosque from which traditionally a man (a muzzeine) calls Muslims to pray five times a day. In Tangier's mosques, voive of alive muzzeine is replaced by a tape record transmitted by four loudspeakers put on an upper part of a minaret.

The minaret of Sidi Bou Abib Mosque dominating Grand Socco is typical in shape: square and topped by thinner, square as well, tower roofed with green (generally royal and muslim, saint colour) tiles.

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	Moroccan dogs Tip Rating:

By matcrazy1 on June 30, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

DOG OF CAP SPARTEL RESTAURANT

by matcrazy1

Walking around the Tangier's medina I saw a few no-bred but similar, thin and dirty dogs sleeping on a street. They didn't pay any attention to pedestrians unless they smelt somehing to eat. I never met any Moroccan walking a dog in Tangier. I got to know that feeding dogs with doggy food from a supermarket (not always available) is very rare among Moroccans and considered either strange and silly loss of money or at least snobish and luxary caprice.

This quite well maintained dog, on my picture, became my friend as I partly shared my meal in Cap Spartel restaurant with him. Just in case you would like to follow me, he preffered meat than fish and didn't like salads :-).

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	Moroccan Vodka Tip Rating:

By matcrazy1 on June 29, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

MENTHA LEAVES SELLER

by matcrazy1

I saw, the first time in my life, guys selling mentha leaves just in Tangier. Excuse, I was too slow to take a better picture of that guy carrying mentha leaves.

Mentha tea is the national drink of Morocco. It's prepared from fresh mentha leaves poured with boiling water with large cubes of suger added. Very sweet. Mentha tea is sometimes called Moroccan vodka.

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	Octagonal minarets Tip Rating:

By matcrazy1 on June 29, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

OCTAGONAL MINARET IN THE
TANGIER'S MEDINA

by matcrazy1

All minarets of muslim mosques in North Africa are square. Well, almost all. I was supriced when I saw the first octagonal minaret in Tangier's medina, close to Dar El Makhzen, the former sultanate and governor's palace. I found the next one a few minutes later and then again one more.

The three minarets had octagonal basic part which ended with decorative stone attic and was topped by thinner, short, square tower roofed with green tiles. I didn't find it anywhere else in Morocco.

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	Ornamental balustrades, no prostitutes Tip Rating:

By matcrazy1 on June 29, 2005

Tangier Page by matcrazy1

ORNAMENTAL BALUSTRADE OF
BALCONY AT PETIT SOCCO

by matcrazy1

I've read somewhere that Tangier is famous for its old balconies with ornamental, metal, hand-made balustrades. Well, indeed, I found them but only a few. The most interesting ones were put on houses in the Petit Socco (the Little Square) of the medina. I could easily watch them sitting in a coffee shop on an opposite side of the street.

Well, I didn't find them very interesting. Following writings in my travel book, I was waiting for any... prostitute of Tangier's most well-known brothel. But after a cup of coffee and juice I gave up.

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	You'll be Charmed here. Tip Rating:

Updated By Geoff_Wright on April 3, 2003

Tangier Page by Geoff_Wright

Nice Necklace, Sir

by Geoff_Wright

Another way of parting with your money. They will literally 'charm' it away from you here. The snake charmer is another short stop. Two smallish snakes in a box. Again, I thought I would be brave and have my neck adorned with one of them. But the show was a set piece, and well rehearsed. A couple of guys had snakes placed loosely around the neck. And for that priviledge, a small fee! And another small fee (another Euro each) for watching.

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	How to be taken for a ride! Tip Rating:

Updated By Geoff_Wright on April 3, 2003

Tangier Page by Geoff_Wright

by Geoff_Wright

Included in our tour was a 5 minute stop to see, and ride, the camels. They wanted 1 Euro to sit on a Camel, which was lead around in a tiny circle. Probably no more than 30 seconds on its back!
And all the time you were being encouraged to buy something from scores of local 'traders'

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