Tangier - First Days

Tangier is an amazing city. It is exquisite in a crumbling, imperfect way. 

 

This is our house. I love how it looks old and falling down on the outside, while the cozy, cute interior is hidden from the world.

There are so many tiny streets

 


















The coast is gorgeous!

And the food is so good! You can get orange juice for seventy cents on the street, and for about two euros in cafes. 

On one of our first days here, we went out to get couscous for lunch. They were huge and are usually made with chicken, so we shared two, me eating vegetables and couscous. 

I honestly don't know how it's possible to get so much flavor into a carrot. Every bite is full of spices, sweetness from the raisins, saltiness from the broth, and the warmth of the steaming couscous. The scent alone is heavenly. 

The vegetables are cooked until very tender, so each bite is juicy and melts in your mouth. The chickpeas are a little firmer, and create a nice contrast with their creamy texture and nutty flavor. My favorite part is the raisins, which seem to soak up spices like nothing else and add a burst of sweetness to each bite of the dish. And the best part? A giant plate of this, in a nice restaurant, preceded by bread and olives, costs about five dollars. I think I could eat it every day.

It is served with a traditional drink, basically watered-down plain yogurt. The mild, tangy beverage actually goes really well with the intensely-flavored couscous. 

 

You don't have to go to a restaurant to find amazing food. There is a tiny shop by our house that sells bread and fresh soups. The women that work there are so nice and they recognize us already.

















For about three dollars, we got two delicious soups - lubia, a traditional white bean stew, and a tomato soup - and delicious bread with garlic, cooked on the griddle until golden brown and crispy. 

 I can't believe I've been here a week already! The time is flying by - it has been so great to hang out with two of my best friends in this awesome city. I'm looking forward to spending the next few months here and trying more fabulous food.