Colours, tissues, crafts and youth

Tangier is Hip

Well, it was never Un-Hip. But so far it was an underground secret.

Do you know that moment between an underground hit becomes mainstream? That's where Tangier stands right now.

Nowadays, the tourist parts of the city (and this is: the whole center) look like any Must See town, from Seville to Bruges.

Clean squares, Western European shops and terraces, souvenir shops... but, but, but... if you want to forget that you are in a different country, you still can.

Be it hidden, be it off the beaten track, the city still has got that little extra edge... boiling very slowly... creative... motivated...

It is a real city. No Bruges or Marrakech. Living, working, industrial, but real.

The craftmanship

It is also because of the never ending economic problems that Morocco has safeguarded something that has become truly rare: True craftsmanship.

Craftsmanship that has been handed over from generation to generation... where does it still exist?

In Morocco it does. In the furniture or clothing ateliers of Fes and Meknes, the hidden alleys of Marrakech or Rabat, people have been and keep developing talents right up their fingertips.

There will be a moment that true authenticity or handmade products will become spectacularly popular... and if that happens, Morocco, again, will become a supplier for the world.

Reservoir of creativity

If you experienced the incredibly quick boum of Tangier first hand, while at the same time see the equally sudden decline of southern Spain...

Then it is clear: the 21st Century is in the midst of a slow changing of the roles.

A very premature thing to say, perhaps, but if you are interested, then it is here that you catch a glimpse of a different world order.

The population of Morocco is slowly climbing to the 34 million, of who a staggering 31% are under the age of 14.

All born and raised in an economy in troubles, the reservoir of survival techniques, strength and creativity is a vast one.

In Tangier, add the fact that youngsters have always almost been able to touch Europe, at least see or feel it from a near distance.

This has resulted in an unparalleled eagerness, to also be able to travel, to also have what these tourists have, to compete and modernize.

Morocco does not have to drill underground to find the resources that will make it Big (which it will).

Story of Dreams

So you are 21, and you have hiked from Essaouira to Tangier, in the hope to find a ship there.

Three times that summer, you were able to hide in a ferry, cross over to Spain, and three times you were arrested and transported back to Morocco.

Doesn't matter. Next summer you just do the same. Together with 2 or 3 friends of your village.

You hide between the lugage in a bus with French tourists. Instead of going to France, it drives to the desert.

You have always wanted to see the desert!

But OK, you are hungry, your shoes are too small, you have no place to stay, so back you go, to your own town.

There's always an other summer.You will make it, you will make it, you will make it.

"Ma vieille Europe... t'es demodé... t'es pas vraiment rock".