A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 6
Today was the first day of our optional two-day overnight trip to Morocco and Tangiers. After a good night’s rest, and a great breakfast at the Bajondillo, we boarded the bus for our trip to Gibraltar. It seems that the bus ride must have been coordinated with the ferry schedule, as we had time for a quick bus tour around the Rock of Gibraltar, which is a 1400-foot-high limestone monolith, and is famous the world over. This gave our Program Director a chance to describe some of the local points of interest while we watched the ever-present, and mischievous, Barbary Macaque monkeys torment the tourists as we passed by them. By then it was time to board the ferry for Morocco.
Photo Credit: https://www.euractiv.com/spain/gibraltar/
It was a beautiful day for the ferry ride, and we enjoyed the 1½ hour trip across the Mediterranean. I was surprised to learn that Gibraltar and North Africa are only 9-miles apart at the Strait of Gibraltar. It was on this ferry trip that we got our first glimpse of how the 9/11/01 terror attack, on the World Trade Center, had affected many of the people around the world. We were surprised when a Muslim family came up to us and said, “We are very sorry about that terrible thing that happened in America.” We could tell that they were truly sorry about what had happened and wanted us to know that it wasn’t the way of all Muslims. We were very appreciative of their sympathy with the U.S.
Photo Credit: https://travel.davidmbyrne.com/morocco-spain-ferry/
When we docked in Africa, our group boarded a bus for the short trip to Tangier. Our Program Director pointed out several points of interest along the way. He informed us that he had arranged for a local guide to help him escort us on our walking tour of the city and the local bazaar. He made it especially clear, that for our safety during our entire tour of the city, we should listen closely to him and our local tour guide for instructions, and for all of us to stay together.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
When we arrived in Tangier, Our Program Director introduced us to the local tour guide, and told us that he spoke fluent English (although with a British accent), and that he would be able to answer any questions we might have during our tour of the city and its many points of interest we would be visiting. He also informed us of the informal itinerary for the day, which would include a trip thru the local bazaar, a stop at a one of the more popular carpet shops, and other shops, as we strolled thru the crowded streets of Tangier.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Our first adventure (and what an adventure that was) was a tour thru the local bazaar (souk). As we strolled thru the open market, we were surrounded by an amazing verity of foods; including all kinds of exotic fruits, vegetables, spices, oils, and an amazing display of every kind of fresh fish and meats imaginable. What an outstanding experience that was.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Next was a leisurely stroll thru some of the streets of Tangier, where we saw a small privately owned pottery shop that displayed some of their beautifully created original plate ware outside. I thought it was a very smart idea the owner had come up with, to place his/her samples on the inside of the entry doors so they were displayed when the doors were opened out.
Photo Credit: DiVoran Lites
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 
I enjoyed the re-vist of our trip.
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