SA off to the unknown

So the boys are off on another adventure to kick start what is going to be a demanding season that culminates in the World Cup on home soil. The boys were hard at it during the recent training camps at SuperSport Park and we decided to get down there with our Extra Cover cameras and ask a few questions.

All was very focused and a breath of determined fresh air was permeating around the environment. One question that prompted a few blank responses from players and other media ‘hounds’ was, “Tell us some information about Tangier?”

It seemed that no one knew anything but the obvious about the ICC’s latest international venue.

Time to get out the atlas and the research books to fill you in – here goes!

Tangier is very much a tourist destination that attracts a great deal of European travellers.

However it is not your normal laid back destination and some of the areas are pretty run down and dilapidated. It’s strategic positioning makes it a crossroads of the civilizations and it looks across at Europe from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

These days it is predominantly a shipping port and is renowned for bustling markets, some enchanting beaches and exotic food. The town beaches have an impressive setting of a several kilometer long curve that attracts tourists like a magnet.

The predominantly white houses line this oasis and provide an enchanting frame to this scenic attraction. There are also several Atlantic beaches west of the city of Tangier that are worth a look. These are nestled amongst a mountainous region that provides an enchanting backdrop.

The Medina of Tangier (the old Arab town) is a bustling focal point where the streets are narrow and the houses are built in many different styles. The condition of this area is in pretty good shape and it forms an important commercial hub.

Socco is a word you will hear frequently in Tangier and it is a Spanish version of the Arabic word for market. The Grand Socco is located in the centre of the Medina but these days it is no longer a market. Today it is a meeting place and a transportation junction, principally for taxis. The Grand Socco is also the point where the modern city’s streets are forced to continue in the narrow streets of the old city.

Tangier is also renowned for the Mendoubia gardens that houses trees that are eight hundred years old. It also has many palaces, dating back hundreds of years. As you can imagine, quaint outdoor cafes abound and provide an ideal vantage point to sample the delights of famous Moroccan coffee and engage in some ‘people watching’ as they go about their daily tasks that include haggling at the ever-abundant markets.

This time round, it is unlikely that the cricket in Tangier will attract too much attention from the locals but this intriguing destination will provide plenty of photo opportunity for the South African cricketers on a rare day off.