McGresty
Wildlife as it happens
Ksar es Seghir
February had finally arrived. My time in Morocco was dragging out and it seemed I had been there for ages, not just one month. The area I where I had my room in Tangier was quite noisy and sleep was minimal. It's a tourist region that people nickname Kandinsky, after a cafe there. After spending over 12 years as a travel blogger, I just had to get out somewhere for a bit of peace and quiet, so went around to near the main train station and grabbed the I3 bus to Ksar es Seghir (a dot on the map).
I stopped to have some mint tea here, it's a bit of a general store and Ksar es Seghir is one of many small villages along the coast as it heads into the Mediterranean. I wandered about and spent some time just relaxing and walking. This entire region is called the Rif Mountains, not high ones like the Atlas, just gentle rises with some farmland as well. A number of Berbers live here also. Everyone, except one guy at the bus stop on the way back, speak only Arabic and Berber from what I could gather.
The lighthouse at the end of what looks like a small pier area with possibly a few boats, I didn't go down to find out, is around the hill from the local stores and residences.
Traffic is minimal and nearly everyone, including myself, just meander along the sidewalks or roads. The bus is local from Tangier costing 8 Dirham each way and takes about an hour, depending on how many times it stops to let folk on or off. Some just flagged the bus down where there were no official stops. The bus seats are plastic, uncomfortable with no padding, but not as bad as the ones in Florence, Italy.
I spent 2 odd hours in the area, walking up and down various routes enjoying myself.
Sat in the seat on the right for my drink of tea.
I stopped to have some mint tea here, it's a bit of a general store and Ksar es Seghir is one of many small villages along the coast as it heads into the Mediterranean. I wandered about and spent some time just relaxing and walking. This entire region is called the Rif Mountains, not high ones like the Atlas, just gentle rises with some farmland as well. A number of Berbers live here also. Everyone, except one guy at the bus stop on the way back, speak only Arabic and Berber from what I could gather.
The lighthouse at the end of what looks like a small pier area with possibly a few boats, I didn't go down to find out, is around the hill from the local stores and residences.
These sheep were just wandering about. There were more in other places as well.
Traffic is minimal and nearly everyone, including myself, just meander along the sidewalks or roads. The bus is local from Tangier costing 8 Dirham each way and takes about an hour, depending on how many times it stops to let folk on or off. Some just flagged the bus down where there were no official stops. The bus seats are plastic, uncomfortable with no padding, but not as bad as the ones in Florence, Italy.
A surprise
Looking beyond the area I was, I saw a largish ruin and headed for it. This was the city of Ksar Seghir in Medieval times (over 1510 years ago), a walled city and archaeological dig today. Inside the building next to it is a museum with all kinds of stuff, including a model of the old city.The view across the water.
I spent 2 odd hours in the area, walking up and down various routes enjoying myself.
Worth the visit.
May 01, 2024
More posts from: On the road
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