Advertisement
Kasbah was once the nest of North African pirates and the arena of European colonists, but now it has become the most cinematic open-air museum in Morocco. This ancient castle, which is located at the highest point of the old city of Tangier, has carved "chaos and poetry" into every brick and stone with maze-like alleys, mottled walls and terraces overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. What can you do in 2 hours? Have a cup of coffee? Watch half a drama? But in Kasbah, 2 hours is enough for you to travel through thousands of years, from the camel bells of the Phoenician caravan to the guitar sounds of hippies. This guide is designed for "time-poor patients" to take you to unlock the soul of Kasbah in the shortest way.
Advertisement
Starting from the Grand Socco Square in the old city of Tangier, climb up the winding cobblestone road for 5 minutes and you will see the entrance of the Kasbah - Bab el Bhar (Sea Gate). This 17th-century city gate was once the focus of competition among European powers, but now it has become a "time and space portal" for tourists.
Advertisement
Three things you must do:
Touch the bronze lion on the door: It is said that touching the lion's paw can bring good luck, but be careful! The bronze lion has been polished to a shine by countless hands, so remember to turn on the flash when taking pictures.
Look up at the relief on the lintel: Phoenician anchor, Roman eagle emblem, Spanish shield... This condenses the thousand-year "black history" of the Kasbah, and can be called the "Atlas of Power Change in North Africa".
Take a "door frame blockbuster": Stand inside the city gate and shoot outward, so that the door frame forms a natural picture frame, with the Atlantic Ocean in the distance and the Arab market nearby in the same frame. If you post it on WeChat Moments, you will be asked "Did you go to Iceland?"
Hidden Easter eggs:
The branch of Café Hafa, a cafe next to the city gate, offers a "power special" - mint tea with a spoonful of sea salt, which is said to taste the wildness of the pirate era.
Go through Bab el Bhar and head straight to the core of the Kasbah - Dar el Makhzen (Sultan's Palace). This 17th-century palace was once the summer palace of the Moroccan Sultan, and now it is the "North African aesthetics attack site".
Advertisement
Efficient route:
Go straight to the "Hall of Mirrors" (Salle des Glaces):
Don't be fooled by the name "Hall of Mirrors"! There is no luxury of the Palace of Versailles here, only mottled stained glass and peeling wallpaper, but when the sun shines through the dome, the whole room will turn into flowing amber.
Photography skills: Use a wide-angle lens to shoot the dome upward, and the characters stand at the intersection of light and shadow, and instantly get the same desert aesthetics as "Dune".
Explore the "underground prison":
Pirates and pagans were once imprisoned in the basement of the palace. The damp brick walls and the sound of iron chains seem to be telling the dark past. The timid should be careful!
Check in the "Sultan Bathtub":
A giant bathtub inlaid with colorful tiles. Legend has it that the Sultan used to bathe in rose water (but more likely camel milk) here. Now the bathtub is full of coins thrown by tourists, and the wishing pool has become an "African Koi Pond" in seconds.
Time-saving Tips:
Tickets are 50 dirhams (including the palace and gardens). It is recommended to rent an audio guide (20 dirhams), but you can skip the lengthy historical explanation and go straight to the "filming point".
When the bougainvillea in the palace garden is in full bloom (March-May), it is a great background for photographing Arab style.
Leave the palace and dive into the maze of alleys in Kasbah. There is no GPS, no road signs, only clotheslines, cats and the sudden smell of roasted lamb.
Must experience:
Find the "Blue Door House":
A wooden door painted sky blue, with a copper fish-shaped door knocker (pirate totem). Try knocking on the door. If you are lucky, you will meet a warm landlord who will invite you to drink mint tea.
Encounter an "alley artist":
You may meet an old man who draws Berber patterns on the wall with chalk, or a craftsman who beats scrap iron into a camel sculpture. Spend 10 dirhams to buy a small souvenir, which is more soulful than the souvenir shop.
Chase a "light and shadow game":
After 4 pm, the setting sun will gild the alley. Find a narrow alley, wait for a woman in a headscarf to walk by, and press the shutter - this is the Moroccan version of "time slice".
Avoid pit guide:
Reject the "free tour guide" who actively strikes up a conversation, they will eventually take you to a carpet shop or spice shop.
There are no trash cans in the alley, please carry your trash with you, otherwise you will be "judged" by the cats.
Climb up from the small square at the end of the alley, and you can reach the best viewing point of Kasbah - an unnamed terrace in 5 minutes. There are no tickets or tourists here, only sea breeze and seagulls.
Must-do list:
Overlooking the "three seas meet":
The Mediterranean Sea on the left, the Atlantic Ocean on the right, and the Strait of Gibraltar in Spain at your feet. Use the telephoto of your phone to zoom in, and you can even take a picture of the lighthouse on the other side.
Listen to a "wave symphony":
The sound of waves hitting the rocks, the sound of ship whistles, and the chanting of mosques are intertwined here, which is more healing than any white noise APP.
Take a "lonely silhouette":
Take your back to the sea with your arms open, let your friends take a backlighting photo, and adjust it to black and white later - instantly transform into the King of the North in "Game of Thrones".
Go down to the market below the terrace and use the last 20 minutes to feel the other side of Kasbah.
Must-buy list:
Argan oil soap: 5 dirhams per piece, half the price of Marrakech, and the fragrance can last for a week.
Handmade copper lamp: A palm-sized Moroccan lampshade, hung on the head of the bed, can project a star-moon pattern.
Freshly baked "Kasbah bread": a round bread baked in a clay oven, stuffed with olive paste and chili, 3 dirhams each, is the best energy bar after hiking.
In 2 hours, you may not remember the names of all the palaces in Kasbah, and can't tell the difference between Phoenicians and Berbers, but you will remember - the flower boy who helped you find the way when you got lost, the old woman who shared oranges with you on the terrace, and the sudden sea breeze that blew away all the fatigue. Do you choose to freeze every inch of light and shadow in Kasbah with the camera, or just put down the guide and get lost in the alleys until dark? Leave a message to tell me your choice, maybe next time I will design a "get lost line" for you!