We never expected to get such an authentic experience in Tangier, but it all started with a local tourist guide jumping into our shuttle on the way to town. For only $5 each, five of us brave souls took him up on his offer, though we were a bit hesitant at first 😅. One of our friends even posted a TikTok of the guide as a funny “just in case we don’t return” moment 🎥.
Our adventure took us deep into Tangier, far from the usual tourist spots, straight into the Kasbah and Medina, where only locals go 🏘️. We marveled at the vibrant streets, painted mostly blue 💙, and got to see the historic Hotel Continental 🏨. The local markets were a whirlwind of sights and smells-fish 🐟, meat 🥩, and produce 🥕 stalls lined the streets. We even witnessed the carving of a full cow’s head! 🐄 Cats were everywhere 🐱, roaming freely, with water bottles filled with spices set at doorsteps to keep them away from homes.
Our guide led us to a rug store owned by his “cousin” (we had our doubts 😉), where we were treated to a demonstration of beautiful handmade rugs 🧶. This was the $5 catch, but no one felt pressured to buy anything. Instead, we were served hot mint tea 🍵 and given time to relax. We visited a couple more “cousins” for product demos, but the stops were low-pressure and offered us more chances to sit and unwind 😊.
The tour wrapped up at Restaurant Vandalucia, another “cousin’s” place, where we enjoyed an incredible Moroccan meal with music 🎶 for just $20 each 🍽️. It was the full Moroccan experience, and by the time the shuttle returned us to our home, the Odyssey 🚢, we realized we had spent only $25 for four hours of genuine local culture.
Despite joking about “aborting the tour” as we ventured deeper into local territory 😆, it turned out to be an unforgettable day in Tangier. If you’re looking for a truly authentic experience, the Medina de Tanger tour is a must! Check it out on TripAdvisor!
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