Sunday, August 30, 2015

Tan Tan Morocco

The port of Tan Tan is near the village of El Quatia with with the town of Tan Tan located several kilometers inland. Upon arrival we were directed to tie to a tug and were met by the usual group of officials to do the clearing in process. Again we were made to feel welcome and there was no"problems" with any of the passports.  Later that day one of the military officials that cleared us in stopped by to ask if we wanted a ride into Tan Tan which of course we accepted. We were given a short tour of El Quatia and Tan Tan and shown where to get taxis in and out of town and what not to take pictures of. We had become a  bit of a curiosity in the area and were evidently much talked about. All of us were sitting in a shop that we found for refreshments and internet and were surprised when the officials from the port came in to ask us to move the boat so the tug could get out. How they found us that easily in a place we stopped at by chance is still a mystery.  Nomad moved to an empty place on the far end of the harbor to watch the manuevers and became a local attraction as a crowd gathered to stare at the boat. The blowing dust and the ever present flies were becoming more troublesome as we headed further south in the Western Sahara. After being sandblasted while walking on the beach we came to understand why people here in the desert favor the the long robes with hoods for protection from the sand and wind.
Since we decided some time ago to make a trip to The Gambia we needed some anti malaria pills and yellow fever vaccine. We searched all over Agadir but the answer was always the same: you must go to this place in Casablanca that was an eight hour bus ride away. Not being interested in  sixteen hours on a bus and another huge city to deal with, we learned that it was
available in the Canary islands so we cleared out of Morocco and set sail for Lanzarote on the twenty fourth of December. 

Tied to a tug in Tan Tan
The beach in Tan Tan

Atlantic surf

Tan Tan fishing fleet

Main market street in Tan Tan

Saharan sunset, returning from Tan Tan

Tan Tan streets

Looking towards the port

Fishing fleet tied up below the pot's offices

Olives lemons and chickens for sale in El Quatia

Clothes for sale in Tan Tan

El Quatia streets

El Quatia mosque

Off road campers