Morocco 2010 trip report - Hercules cave and Tangier
Moroccan group taxi in Tangier
In the morning of my second day in Tangier I met Joad, my new friend from Iraq and left my backpack in his room. Our plan was to visit a small cave known as the cave of Hercules. Joad's ability to speak Arabic came handy on the way and in no time we were on our way to the cave in an old Mercedes group taxi. It's not called a group taxi because of its size but because it can pick up more people on the way. Normally taxis are relatively expensive for tourists in Morocco but as Joad spoke Arabic, things changed.
The cave of Hercules
The Hercules cave is nothing really spectacular and it is a bit spoiled because of tourism. Anyhow the view to the sea from inside the cave is nice. It didn't take a long time to see everything there and we didn't feel like going back yet so we walked along to beach for a while. After walking we had a meal with fish and bread. My fish tasted somehow spoiled and it took a long time to eat it. The prices weren't expensive though.
In the evening it was time to say good bye to Joad and his Arabic skills. My plans were to take a night train to Marrakech and to get to the high atlas mountains from there. On the way to the railway station not so surprisingly a random man came to talk to me. At this point I hadn't yet developed the necessary skill set to understand that everyone who talks to you voluntarily in Morocco wants money. I knew how to get to the station but this guy naturally insisted on showing me the way. In the end he started telling that he needs money for his multiple kids and medicine. At first he wanted 100 dh but in the end I gave him maybe 7 dh and walked away.
The night train trip in a sleeping car cost 350 dh and the trains are fairly modern. I shared the room in the carriage with some English-speaking couple and young male student from Morocco. Surprisingly the young fellow spoke really good English and we talked for a while before going to bed. He was probably the first Moroccan person who chatted with me without wanting any money.
Camels were being lazy near the cave of Hercules
Sandy and hot beaches not far away from Tangier
Some plants were strong enough to survive in that drought
My bad-tasting meal of fish
The brand new railway station of Tangier - I heard that the old one was closed due to terrorism.
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