Keeping an Eye on the Strait of Gibraltar

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


Disco Time at the Legation’s Cistern Chapel

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


Tangier: Old Port, New Port

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


Incredible Shrinking Museum

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


70 Years Ago: Tangier Under Franco’s Rule

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


What Money Can Buy in Tangier: More Than a Dry Roof

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


Wicked Leaks & TALIM: Our Own Liquidity Problem

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


Visit Tangier, Send $ to Tucson

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


Washington’s Piece of the Tangier American Legation

That's me in front of one of the Legation's many doors, or doors-within-gates.  Only it's not in the medina of Tangier, but in DACOR Bacon House, the HQ of Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired. DACOR has a small but wonderful museum, open to the public.  But why this massive artifact from America's oldest diplomatic establishment?  … Read more Washington’s Piece of the Tangier American Legation


Tangier is Enchanted by Diana Wylie’s Book

Vicariously, I experienced the First Regional Book Fair in Tangier through updates from TALIM's Associate Director.  According to Yhtimad Bouziane (here with Tangier's new mayor Fouad El Omari and Book Fair organizer Rachid Amahjour as they visited the Legation stand), it was a great opportunity to network and do lots of outreach, while selling a … Read more Tangier is Enchanted by Diana Wylie’s Book