We left our hotel for the Morocco tour at 6:30 a.m. Into Algeciras (15 km) and located the Tourafrica office at Hotel Al-Mar (nice). Picked up our tickets, parked the car and were hustled by a Spanish fellow who tried to arrange a tour for us. Across the road and into his buddies office where we explained to him we already had our tickets. Oh well. Took a taxi to the ferry (across the street) and boarded by 7:40 a.m. Off we went.

    
    
    
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Left to our devices in Ceuta for two hours shopping. Cameras, watches and leather. Thought we would wait until Tangier to purchase. Nice city with lots of activity. Morocco isn't so bad. Back on the bus at 12:20 p.m. to pick up the rest of the tour and it was the third time the driver took our passports. Probably end up buying them back in an alley in Tangier. Thought we were real smart buying Durhams for this part of the trip; everything priced in pesetas here.

      
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Back at the docks a gent got on the bus, minus his wallet. "Everywhere I've been and never been touched. Hang onto your wallets!" Pulled out and were in for a surprise; we arrived at the Moroccan border. Seems Ceuta is a free port, governed by Spain. At the border the wallet gent was a little concerned about not having his passport. "Might get stranded and they'll get my teeth too!" After a long and not too pleasant stop at customs, off we went.

  
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Once across, the poor farming and scrawny livestock were very much in evidence, but there are also some nice resorts being developed along the coast.

  
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Stopped to see some camels that are bought up from the south for the tourists. Carole and Merv tried a go at riding them.

    
    
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The police stopping cars every few miles along the road but they left us alone. Finally into Tetouan and the Medina (market). Narrow winding streets, 8' wide; like tunnels. Shops are holes in the walls, 4'x6'.

  
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We had lunch in a native eating establishment, complete with all the entertainment they could muster. Soup of an unknown variety, buns, a shish kabob (?) and a cooked barley dish with chicken.

      
        
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On through the market and stopped to see a snake charmer. He had a whole box of goodies and with great reluctance, he let Merv take a closer look.

      
    
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On to the main market to deal on rugs, leather coats and handicrafts. We bought three coats. Took a long time to cut a deal, then out to catch our bus. You guessed it, no bus, but our bags were on the sidewalk with a diligent guard sitting on them. Our tour guide, who had held us up in the market (no doubt getting a cut from our purchase), took this development in stride and arranged for a taxi to take us to our hotel in Tangier, 54 km away. Off we went, with a short stop at the police station to have my passport checked. On the road again, with great misgivings, but we did make it and got checked into the wrong hotel. No problem though, our Tourafrica tour guide found us within 15 minutes of checking in and after he gave us a short briefing of tomorrow events, off to the bar for a beer.

    
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By now it's 5 in the afternoon. Lee and I jammed out and retired to our room for a snooze till supper. With determination in their stride, Carole and Merv struck off to do a little shopping on their own. Hope we see them again. But happy day! Carole and Merv appeared back at our rooms an hour later, no worse for wear. No hassles and even found souvenir spoons. Off to the restaurant for tasty supper of soup and fish. Flag beer brewed in Morocco is excellent. Off to bed by 10 p.m. (midnight Spanish time). Hotel not bad and the rooms were okay.