You know that Tangier is extremely humid, even when it's not raining. You also know that the historic American Legation building is stone, cement, plaster, and concrete, materials in use in our 18th through 20th century buildings. And that these walls are soaking wet (so says our new moisture meter). So who's worried about fire … Read more In Case of Fire, Pray to St. Florian
190 years ago, in 1821, Morocco's Sultan Moulay Slimane (the French transliteration tends to be used, vice the more familiar to Anglophones "Suleiman") gave the original building of the Tangier Legation to the United States. Now, 190 doesn't have quite the same ring as 200, but this is notice to those who care about such … Read more 1821: Sultan Moulay Slimane Gives Tangier Legation to U.S.
Twenty years ago, in the magical Belgian film Toto le héros, we saw a glimpse of the future: walking down the street, you're confronted with wiring, plumbing, and tubing coming out of the most unexpected places. It's the Centre Pompidou effect, but without the discipline. I've seen the future, and it's here in the medina. … Read more Wired, Wireless, Haywire: Legation’s Trimlines Get Sidelined
Anyone reading this blog over the last few weeks might get the idea that Morocco lives under a big rain cloud. Definitely not the case. There is a sunny side to the country, and we've been there: Marrakesh. I even groused about its tourist-trap side, though the city is much more than beads and baubles. … Read more AIMS In Marrakesh, TALIM In Morocco
Back in Tangier after a week in sunny Marrakesh. Thankfully the sun is shining in Tangier too. Marrakesh and its sights – sprawling medina around its famous Jemaa el Fna, suburban reservoirs nestled in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains – attract a number of tourists. And therein lies the problem. I don't feel like … Read more Bad Tourist in Marrakesh
I like to call it the "poor box." It's the wooden box screwed to our door, with the hope that visitors to the museum will be moved to leave a token of their appreciation. Good thing tokens don't exist anymore. Or else we'd get them, along with wooden nickels, and other useless objects. Somebody once … Read more Legation Fund Raising: Insert Money Here
Photo at left: J. Rives Childs, Chargé d'Affaires, American Legation Tangier, February 1941 – June 1945 (from the collection at TALIM). The following letter is from one of Childs' many books, Vignettes, or Autobiographical Fragments, Vantage Press, 1977. – – – – – – – Tangier, 13 … Read more Tangier American Diplomat Among the Righteous?
Note to readers: December is a time when many people suffer from S.A.D., Seasonal Affective Disorder, or the winter blues. I may have identified a variant, peculiar to this corner of North Africa, called L.E.D. or Legation Enchantment Disorder. It's not quite disenchantment, but it is a bummer. This "December Report" is in the format … Read more December Diary: The Enchantment Is Elusive
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
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
