Our adventure started at 0530 when we walked down to the corner to wait for the tour bus to pick us up. The bus then picked up everyone else on the tour and eventually landed on the coast at Algeciras.

We got to quickly go to the bathroom where I got a flash back to my Korean days... If you've not had the pleasure, it is an experience... There was a lady from DC that went in behind me and her comment was "what the heck am I supposed to do with that?".

I gave her quick instructions and a few minutes later I heard "and who is supposed to help me get back up?". I have to admit, it is much easier to use at age 18 than 40 something...

We picked up the "fast" ferry (as there is a "slow" ferry). It is a hydrafoil style boat that does go twice as fast as the slow ferry. The ferry ride was nice as we got a nice view of the coast of Spain. The weather was a bit drizzley, but not bad.

They even had wind mills (no picture available).

One of the passengers on the ferry even had an interesting solution to male pattern baldness.

This HAD to hurt!

Once off the boat we were loaded onto a bus where we were taken on a driving tour of Tangier. Our first stop was for Camel rides. I wandered to the edge and tried to get some pictures.

Here is the way it works ... they plop the Fez (hat) on your head and offer to take your picture with the baby camel (with your camera) and then want a $2 tip for taking it of you. Neither Edward nor I did the camel ride thing. These camels were filthy! and the flies! Forget it! The baby was cute. Edward laughs hysterically when he sees this picture.

Meanwhile, those that weren't on the camels were attacked by salesmen selling (really) cheap jewelry, Fez's, leather stuff. They are relentless! Edward was so cute as he was trying to maintain his southern manners in the face of REALLY pushy salesmen that really don't take no for an answer.

Notice Edward...

Don't worry, Edward got "fez'ed" also...

If you aren't familiar with Edwards "looks", that is the "why aren't you helping me" look that he is giving me, as I thought he should experience the total shopping experience...

When we got on the bus, guess what Edward had in his lap... Yep! The Fez. He thought that buying it would get rid of the guy...

It didn't work, it just attracted more.

Tangier looks much nicer from a far. The whole city is in bad need of a coat of paint.

Kazbah literally translated means fortress and we walked through the remains of it. They even had snake charmers there for our entertainment.

We then walked through a series of markets. Remember those pesky salesmen I spoke of earlier? They have now grown in numbers and are peskier than ever...

The ladies in the hats are berbers. it is a nomadic tribe in Morocco. They come to the market to sell their wears. I realized after I took the picture that they don't like cameras and hide.

The market place was your standard stuff... Shoes, clothes, dead chickens...

yep, pretty standard stuff...

One lady put it best calling it "combat shopping"

On the menu... Chicken...

These are the moochers... waiting for us to come out of dinner.Our last walk back to the ferry was the worst. They were on HARD SELL.

Edward was doing good tolerating them until one pushed me down (I think the guy was trying to get out of the way of a car). I wasn't hurt and I was happy to see Edward and our guide. My patience was coming to an end (I still bagged some really good bargains).

We couldn't get back to the ferry fast enough and very happy to be back on Spainish soil!