Michael Toler The art of piggybacking, taking advantage of targets of opportunity, is particularly important when an institution's budget is, shall we say, limited. This week is a case in point. Thanks to the re-opening, after extensive renovation, of Tangier's legendary bookstore Librairie de Colonnes, a certain amount of high-powered literary and cultural talent has gathered in … Read more Another Tangier Literary Week – With Americans
Number of US National Historic Landmarks: fewer than 2,500 Number located outside the United States: 1 Location: Tangier, Morocco Name: American Legation (TALIM) – – – – – – – We are proud of our designation as the only US National Historic Landmark located outside the United States. So it was only natural that we … Read more National Historic Landmark: Shining the Legation’s Plaque
On Saturday 11 December HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated the Tangier maritime traffic control centre (CSTM), which will contribute to improving maritime traffic efficiency and protecting the environment in the Gibraltar Strait. The Tangier centre is the first in the Arab world and Africa to be mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as a … Read more Keeping an Eye on the Strait of Gibraltar
Sometimes, it takes an entomologist. At right, that's Jay Nixon, Board Certified Entomologist with American Pest Management, Inc., sent to TALIM courtesy of the State Department's Overseas Building Operations (OBO). Jay believes in the top to bottom approach in surveying our more than two century old building for insect problems. Bottom means bottom. In this … Read more Disco Time at the Legation’s Cistern Chapel
The festive music wafting up the hill to the medina was a giveaway: it was either a wedding (unlikely in that it was midday) or His Majesty was in town. Yesterday, Morocco's King Mohammed VI was in Tangier to be briefed on the multimillion dollar plans to convert the port. For centuries, fishing boats, ferries, … Read more Tangier: Old Port, New Port
Last week I told you that the crime scene tape was coming up: well, I didn't find the yellow variety, but red and white stripes will do just fine. I don't want this to be a one-note blog, but these days of torrential rains and raw weather has put building concerns front and center. Try … Read more Incredible Shrinking Museum
Because I like to delve into parallel history, here's what was going on in Tangier December 3rd, 1940: A band of Italian hooligans entered the British Post Office, tore down some photographs and news bulletins and damaged the counter grille. There seems to be no necessity to comment upon these events, which will be treated … Read more 70 Years Ago: Tangier Under Franco’s Rule
I'm not in the habit of running real estate articles, but thanks to vigilant friends of TALIM, I was alerted to an article in today's New York Times. In its "Great Homes and Destinations" series, the Times provides a tantalizing look at how some people (not us!) live in Tangier's medina. "In Tangier, a Traditional … Read more What Money Can Buy in Tangier: More Than a Dry Roof
While the US State Department deals with the Wikileaks crisis, we have our own brand of leaks. The literal kind. Leaks that seep in between the large, gaping spaces in window frames, through shutters that are rotten, or via walls that are cracked from foundering foundations. Think I'm exaggerating? Well, look at the map (Bestcountryreports.com). … Read more Wicked Leaks & TALIM: Our Own Liquidity Problem
We like the new TALIM poster, which made its debut at the AIMS booth at MESA last week in San Diego. It has a nice '30s travel touch. Yes, we do hope you visit Tangier and TALIM. You can experience the '30s – both the 1930s and the 1830s. The Legation has seen it all. … Read more Visit Tangier, Send $ to Tucson
