5 things about Tangiers

and little bit more…

I asked Sarah Charpentier Riani - the creative force behind Ewwel designs - to list her Five Favourite Things in Tangiers.

 Il y a tellement de choses que j’aime à Tanger… ce fut donc difficile de n’en choisir que 5 ! Je vis dans cette ville depuis maintenant un peu plus de 3 ans, et chaque jour je découvre de nouvelles choses, de nouveaux endroits…Une atmosphère particulière qui ne laisse personne indifférent. Voici donc ma petite liste, sans ordre de préférence, des 5 choses que j’aime à Tanger :

There are so many things that I like about Tangier . . . it was hard to choose only 5! I have been living in this city for just over 3 years now, and every day I discover new things, new places -  it has an atmosphere that leaves no one indifferent. So - here is my list, without order of preference, of  5 things I like about Tangier:

1) UNE BISSARA! Une plat tellement simple mais tellement bon…Une sorte de purée de pois cassés ou de fèves, agrémentée d’un filet d’huile d’olive du pays, du cumin et du paprika. Et c’est encore meilleur avec quelques petits morceaux d’oignons crus…Et qui dit Bissara, dit forêt de Perdicaris, un des meilleurs endroits pour en déguster une!

1) A BISSARA! A dish so simple but so good . . . it is a sort of pureed pea or bean soup, embellished with a dash of olive oil, cumin and paprika. And it's even better with a few small pieces of raw onions! And whoever says Bissara, also says Perdicaris Forest, one of the best places to enjoy it!

2) LA FORET DE PERDICARIS Sur les hauteurs de Tanger, c’est une forêt communale en plein milieu urbain. J’aime m’y promener en famille et admirer la richesse de sa biodiversité. On peut également y voir une mystérieuse villa aux airs de manoir (laissée très longtemps à l’abandon mais actuellement en pleine rénovation) dont le propriétaire était Ion Perdicaris, riche américain.

2 ) THE FOREST PERDICARIS On the heights of Tangier, it is a communal forest in an urban setting . I love to walk there with my family and admire its rich biodiversity. One can also see a mysterious manor house (very long left abandoned but currently being renovated) whose original owner was Ion Perdicaris, a wealthy American.

Et rien n’est plus agréable que de se balader sur la chaussée romaine et profiter d’une splendide vue sur la mer. 

And nothing is more pleasant than to walk on the old Roman road and enjoy the splendid sea view.

3) LA KASBAH C’est un de mes quartiers préférés à Tanger. Situé sur les hauteurs de la vieille médina, c’est un lieu chargé d’histoire. J’aime siroter un thé à la Menthe place du Tabor à l’ombre d’un ficus centenaire et profiter de l’ambiance apaisante…

3) THE KASBAH This is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Tangier. Located on the heights of the old medina, this is a place full of history. I like to sip a mint tea at the place of Tabor in the shade of a century-old ficus and enjoy the soothing ambience ...

4) LAS CHICAS

La boutique LAS CHICAS est l’endroit incontournable du shopping à Tanger. Installée dans une ancienne maison rénovée avec goût, j’aime y découvrir les dernières nouveautés des designers locaux, papoter avec les charmantes propriétaires Ayda et Yasmine et faire une petite pause déjeuner sur la terrasse entre copines.

dans une ancienne maison rénovée avec goût, j’aime y découvrir les dernières nouveautés des

designers locaux, papoter avec les charmantes propriétaires Ayda et Yasmine et faire une

petite pause déjeuner sur la terrasse entre copines.

4) LAS CHICAS The shop Las Chicas is the place to shop in Tangier. Housed in an old house renovated with taste, I like to discover the latest local designers there, chatting with the charming owners Ayda and Yasmine while taking a lunchbreak on the terrace among friends.

5) LA CINEMATHEQUE

Pour le moment, c’est l’unique cinéma à Tanger. Conservé dans son jus, j’aime

l’ambiance complètement vintage de ce lieu qui propose une belle programmation pour les

enfants, des nouveautés et des films d’auteur. Ici pas de pop corn, c’est plutôt ambiance thé à

la menthe et patisseries faites maison.

Entrée 20 Dirhams, imbattable !

5) THE CINEMATHEQUE For now,it is the only cinema in Tangier. Kept in its own original aesthetic, I love the completely vintage atmosphere of this place, which also offers a great programme for children, novelties and art films . Here there is no popcorn, but plenty of atmosphere, mint tea and homemade pastries. Entry 20 Dirhams, unbeatable!

Parce-que faire une liste de mes 5 choses préférées à Tanger est vraiment trop difficile, et parce-que ce n’est plus vraiment Tanger, je me permets d’ajouter un sixième lieu ! 6) PLAGE HERMES Après Assilah, sur la route de Larache, se trouve la plage de Sidi Mghait. Appelée aussi Plage Hermès (dû à la présence de la maison du célèbre créateur français), cette plage est assez difficile d’accès. Bien qu’aménagée de transats et de petits Chiringuitos , cette plage reste sauvage et tranquille. J’aime y un faire un bain d’argile et déguster un bon tajine de poisson face à la mer. Du pur bonheur.

Because making a list of my five favorite things to Tangier is really too difficult, and because - it's not really Tanger , I might add a sixth place! 6)PLAGE HERMES - Just after Assilah, on the road to Larache, is the beach of Sidi Mghait.This beach is also called Hermes(due to the presence of the house of the famous French designer, this beach is difficult to access. Although there are some deckchairs and small Chiringuitos in the summer, this beach remains wild and tranquil. I like to make a clay bath and enjoy a good fish tagine facing the sea . Pure happiness.

So . . . a few ideas for next time you find yourself in Tangiers?

x

tea at . . . la tangerina

 Sitting on the roof terrace of La Tangerina, gazing across the straits towards Spain, sipping on hot mint tea or maybe a cold glass of wine, always feels just a little remarkable to me. 

A {literal} stones throw away from the fortified walls that overlook the ocean, La Tangerina is on the main road that goes through the kasbah,

 As you knock on the somewhat daunting front door, you feel a little like something out of a fairy tale as the door swings open and you step out of the road and into the calm and cool of the hotel.

Fresh flowers, filtered light, a canary chirping somewhere up the stairs . . .

Attention to detail is evident everywhere, from the collection of vintage radios, to thoughtfully selected books to page through as you sink into a comfortable chair.

Each room is different and decorated with carfully chosen vintage carpets and locally sourced textiles. A little like going into someones home - just better.

image via Abanja

And if your ensuite feels a little too much like hard work after a busy day in the souks, there is always the hammam, where the days dust can be washed away for you.

Still feel the need to relax even more  - well, you are on holiday aren't you? 

  Head back up to the terrace and recline

 right here with a good book. 

Perfect

That's just a few of the reasons why I love staying at La Tangerina!

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(images from tea-in-tangiers & La Tangerina)

beyond the kasbah . . . Las Chicas

a concept store in Tangiers

Sometimes a girl just needs a little space . . .

a place to come up for air after navigating the twists and turns of the medina.

What better place to head for than Las Chicas - a concept store in Tangiers,where traditional craft meets contemporary design.

where

traditional textures transform into contemporary cushions

                           

and tarbouret stools get wound up with colour

while handcrafted lanterns tell a story

and vintage sits comfortably alongside contemporary 

oh yes . . .  did I mention that they do a great tea and cake as well?

And if you are wondering where to find it - walk out the main gate of the Kasbah, and instead of heading left down the hill to the medina, just walk on straight for a few metres, you cant miss it!

 I promise you, if you find yourself in Tangiers, these directions will make sense!

{ images via Las Chicas & tea-in-tangiers }

Las Chicas: Concept store qui réunit differents createurs de mode, design, bijoux, accessoires, déco...made in Morocco; ainsi qu'un salon de thé.

52 rue Kacem Guennoun, Porte de la Kasbah., 90000 Tanger, Morocco

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le salon bleu

Just to prove that do I actually drink tea, sometimes even in Tangiers . . .   and that the title for this blog is not simply a result of my linguistic obsession for alliteration!

This morning you could have stumbled across me at le salon bleu, a tea lounge overlooking the kasbah where I went to escape the midday sun while sedately sipping some mint tea! 

I had had my fill of the sights and sounds of the grande socco - the main square of Tangiers that leads into the medina and surrounding shops and souks - and having spent the morning negotiating fabrics & colours, sizes & threads . . . I needed that mint tea!

And le salon bleu was the perfect place to retreat to - so put it on your list if you find yourself with time to spare in the kasbah of Tangiers!
Good tea, good decor, good location - what more does a girl need?

It is connected to the hotel Dar Nour, a place which I haven't stayed at yet (they where fully booked ) but it is definitely on my list for next time!