TANGIER PEOPLE

What is a better way to tell about a people than with some real life stories? Here are some people I met.


Tea-room-Sylvia
Spanish, 60something

"Oh, it was SO nice in the old days. We were all European. In the evening the gates would close and the local people would go to... go to... to their places, and we would only be European, and walk arouuuuund, all caaaaalm and safe, and oh it was... SO nice".


Cigarettes-Houssam
Tangerino, 23

"It was a bus with French tourists. I thought: that one is going to France! So I hid between the suitcases. But then the bus started to drive and it took forever, forever. And I got so hungry, and there was oil dripping on my clothes. And then, when the bus stopped, and I got out... I was in Marrakech!

Marrakech! I had always wanted to see Marrakech. What a beautiful city"!


Man in love in lobby
50something, on a cell phone

"You know I am Plato rather than Aristotle. When I say "yes" that does not necessarily mean the same thing as when you would say that.

When I say "yes" it is because I felt that was the answer you were most eager to hear, and that I wanted to make you feel comfortable and happy again. And see you sigh that sigh of relief.

If you say "yes", that is the result of calculations and estimates. If I really want to hear the real estimates I would buy the Financial Times. I turn to you to feel better. Be a bit more Plato, will you"?


Souk Tangier
In the Petit Socco

Man in Airport
40'ish, screaming

"I have a complaint. I say: I have a complaint! Com-plaint. Do you hear me?!

Jeez, they don't understand me. Does anyone speak Turkish here?

Ok, not Turkish. Moroccan then?

Hello? You. Toi. You speaka language? English. A language".


Receptionist
18'ish

"Hello Finland. Oh, you are from Spain? Sorry, you Europeans all look alike".


Rug salesman
Under 100

"You are looking for a rug? Look, beautiful rugs. Handmade. Very special. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful rugs. So unique. Look. You never saw such a...

Oh I am so fed up with these stupid ridiculous rugs. Let's play cards".

info@tangierdreamer.com

Abdou with a smile
From Casablanca, 30something

"So you are from Spain? I have been to Spain. Many times.

Last time? Two weeks ago. That was my 4th time this summer.

But it's always just for a night or so, because well, the police already catch me on the beach, so they send me back to Tangier again.

But the Spanish beaches... they are nice, no"?


Guesthouse owner
Nice lady, somewhere

"I got an complaint of a guest saying she had found a condom in her room.

I thought: whaaaat?! That is not pos-si-ble. The cleaning girl cleans every room e-ve-ry day.

I went to that room, turned it upside down and... yes, there was a condom, neatly folded under one foot of the sofa, so it would not wiggle.

The cleaning girl must have thought: Oh, that's a handy plastic thing.

You know, that innocence, that is patrimonium of humanity, that is the highlight and the whole reason why I am in love with this region".


Lady at seafront hotel
30something, gasping for air

"There is no entertainment park nearby?! You are telling me that... there is no entertainment park nearby"?!


"You have watches, we have time".