Our intrepid leaders, Ev and Pam, at the front door of La Tangerina riad in Tangier today before exploring the kasbah and medina in this wonderful city.

Home to 2 million people, Tangier (or Tanger) has a long history as the closest point on the African continent to Europe, being today only a brief ferry ride away from Tarifa in Spain.  At stages, a Roman, British, Portuguese, Spanish and French city, the white-washed buildings reflect the more recent times as a Spanish protectorate.  But there’s no mistaking that today this is very much a proud Moroccan place and an appropriate entrée to Evocative Morocco 2018!

Our tour began with an information and getting-to-know each other session on the rooftop terrace of La Tangerina riad where all 16 of us, plus one, swapped expectations for the trip and heard from Ev as we sipped mint tea, heard the seagulls compete with the call to prayer from a dozen nearby mosques, and marvelled at the view across the water to Spain.

A hearty tagine dinner, with some lovely Moroccan wines, and off to bed before painting begins in earnest tomorrow, Sunday, September 30.  Where did the month go?

It’s hard to believe that it’s just over two weeks before our 2018 Morocco art tour begins in the northern city of Tangier.

I’ll be blogging daily — or at least attempting to do so depending on the internet connection speeds — so you can follow our adventures and see some of the scenes our artists painted.

It all starts on Saturday, September 29.

Paul