Thread #2863455
File: 99599531cded2a3da6e68208b4443a69.jpg (379.9 KB)
379.9 KB JPG
Has anyone here travelled here, and if so what advice would you be willing to share for someone who has never been before?
32 RepliesView Thread
>>
The author William S Burroughs had a vacation home in Tangier. He also had a son. His son came to visit as a teen (I wanna say 13-14 years old). Burroughs was gay and had male friends over who hit on him and possibly had sex with him, which troubled the son and sort of slow-spiraled into an early death in his early 30s.
I got a book about the son but have yet to read it. There's an Esquire article where the son accuses the father of leaving him with the gay pervs but I read and it and couldn't find out where exactly he said that.
There's a lot of history in general in North Africa of gay men visiting there to pay teen boys for sex. There's a 1960s movie based on a Tennessee Williams play that's basically about a woman who witnesses her cousin or uncle I forget which soliciting boys on a beach in North Africa and she threatens to tell so they try and lobotomize her. And the guy who plays the doctor who would do the lobotomy was bi irl.
>>
>>
>>2863573
It seems like a place that's a nice idea but maybe the reality is more gritty. Interestingly, geologically, the Atlas mountains are the other side of Appalachia, but obviously much dryer. When Africa collided with North America, it created mountains on both sides, but I suppose (originally) the Appalachians were taller than the Atlas because of the direction of the impact but maybe that's wrong.
But I have no tolerance for Muslim places I can't fathom being a gay there I just wouldn't.
I wonder what the "best" things to see are outside the cities.
>but with added blown out old women who pay for black men to fuck them.
anon on out was saying in west africa there's naked black men who solicit on beaches and will fuck men or women and some of them are just boys
>>
>>
>>
>>2863583
To be fair to the brownies, it was the French who criminalized it when they had a colony there, and it just never got decriminalized. Then the march of globalism imports wahhabist Islam from the Gulf states, and all of a sudden fun is no longer allowed.
I've dug deep, deep into the rabbit hole of pre-colonial Maghrebi history and literature and it's fruity with gay tongue-kissing and fucking, basically everyone was homogay
>>
>>2863672
>brown people were fine with gays before whites got there
absolutely not lol nobody believes you at all
>and it's fruity with gay tongue-kissing and fucking, basically everyone was homogay
irrelevant, it was always underground and discouraged just as now
there was no gay marriage in pre-colonial maghrebi society, men didn't publicly openly pair off for life with societal recognition
>>
I'm sitting in around at an auto mechanic shop in Nouakchott waiting for my car to be repaired right now. I just recently drove down through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea to Freetown, Sierra Leone. Now I am driving back home to Europe.
Morocco is like California but nicer-- friendly people, beautiful and diverse scenery, good infrastructure. I can see why it was popular with the gays-- lots of handsome and friendly men.
Mauritania gets you the craziness of sub-Saharan Africa but without all the "Hey, my friend..." bullshit. Nice beaches too, but the water is a bit cool. Nouakchott has a certain charm to it.
>>
>>
>>2863725
>brown people were fine with gays before whites got there
Not what I said, I said it was never a criminal thing, and it was definitely accepted back then more than it is nowadays. Basically every bad thing about Morocco is either Arabic or French in Origin, not genuinely Moroccan.
>>
>>2863815
Do you meet other European overlanders escaping the winter chill in Africa? Having a car gives you security because you are mobile and isolated from the streets, versus traveling by local buses.
>>2863844
Morocco is one of those countries where half the people rave about it, and the other half say it's the worst ever. As a connoisseur of rural mountain villages, I bet I'd enjoy it a lot. But Central Asia is higher on my list of travel priorities at this time. Being farther from wealthy Europe, I bet lodging is better value in Central Asia than in Morocco. And Central Asian Islam is very blasé.
>>
>>
>>2863455
>>2863460
Tangier would be a cool city if everybody there wasn't so focused on scamming tourists 24/7. Also any vibes of the beat generation era are long gone.
>>2863815
>Morocco is like California but nicer
I guess if you always stay within a mile of the coast where the "what happens at the beach stays at the beach" laws are applied
>>
>>
>>2864106
The vibe, to me of the beat poets, seemed mostly to be "I am super depressed because I am gay and creative and expressive and society wants me dead nonetheless, so I am going to abuse drugs and alcohol and lash out socially but in this controlled, literary way instead of actually fighting the powers-that-be". Maybe I'm wrong, but as a gay man it seemed to me to be mostly about sexual suppression.
People who are allowed to have normal, sexual childhood where their desires are allowed and encouraged don't later move to Tangiers to fuck anything that moves, ya know?
>>
>>
>>2864112
hiking, its the appalachia, but in a desert, and with muslims running around
also, explore the souk/buy stuff
I guess its sort of interesting they have no culture in North Africa besides mosques and markets, but maybe I'm missing something.
>>
>>
>>
>>2864114
The picturesque souq and associated stereotypes are essentially Arabic. All north african countries have a cultural substrate of Berbers. This includes the Tuaregs, the people of the Siwa oasis, and basically everyone with light skin in Morocco and Algeria. Most of them are arabized, but when you get into the really remote places and stumble on some tribe or ritual that hasn't been diluted by the Arab globohomo, the feeling of being in "Real Africa" hits you like lightning, the minute you hear the drums and chanting.
>>
>>
>>
Rabat was my last stop on a trip around the Mediterranean earlier this year. It was gross, crowded, food was mostly shit, and the service people were pushy and annoying. Also stayed in a really shitty hostel that had no closed window or a/c so you could hear the noise from the medina 24/7 and in the morning the room would smell like old cooking grease from the shops below. Since I'd already been to several other MENA countries I didn't find it that interesting and tbqh I wasn't super interested in the Maghreb in the first place. I've been through Egypt and India and found enough to be enjoyable in both those countries to not mind going back someday but not Morocco. Shan't be going back.
>>
>>2864392
>Goes to the most Europeanized, modern city in the country
>Determines the entire country is shit and not worth going back to
I spew a lot of BS on this website too so I can't judge. But FYI the street food in Rabat is fantastic.
>>2864375
Any off-the-radar recs within an easy transport from Cairo? I'm going to Sharm on Saturday but have to burn a full day in the city.
>>
>>
A lot of crime, some very sketch places, terrorist activity in rural areas and occasional attacks on tourists. Notably unsafe for women.
Very interesting landscapes, a lot of people hire cars. Egypt is fairly different to the rest of North Africa major destinations in Morocco are well touristed.
>>
>>2863455
Not as crazy as people make it out to be. Use Uber/ Careem if you can. If someone tries to fuck with you match with another driver. Never ever ever let anyone stop you, if someone hassles you just keep walking. Crime IS generally low and Muslim countries are hard on petty thieves, I've heard law breaks down once you get into the sticks and it really is down to local justice. Make what you will.
Public transport CAN be feasible depending on the location, be it rail or bus. Bus is often far cheaper and doable, long-distance routes always stop at scam services sites. Try to avoid tours as they also try to get you in shops and shit and with good planning you don't really need them.
Egypt people tend to have a crappy grasp of English but enough to get by, anywhere west its French that's the Lingua Franca. If you have a basic knowledge of French you'll be fine! And with tourism on the rise on Morocco there's also some basic knowledge of English there but really French is your friend.
Countries tend to have dialects which aren't always mutually intelligible. Don't expect to learn basic MSA and for people to know wtf you're saying. Whatever country you choose if you're going to learn some key phrases make sure its specific to that country's dialect.
I would personally arrange transport from the airport in advance, if you're not picking up a car fact is you're going to be robbed but unless theres a public transport connection there's not much you can really do outside using the apps.
Food is generally miserable lets be honest. Tagine SUCKS curry is a million times better, there's decent vegetarian food but that's about it.
Oh and also you need bottled water, airports are slow as shit and most services are a bit slipshod to say the least. I really really really doubt you'll have a hard time unless you're the kind of person who cowers in a corner when someone starts shouting at you rather than just walking away and getting on with your life.
>>
Traveling through North Africa is a sensory explosion, but it can be a bit of a "trial by fire" if you've never been. I’ve spent a lot of time navigating the region—from the chaotic medinas of Morocco to the silent desert ruins of Egypt—and here is what I wish I’d known before my first trip:
1. Start with the "Relaxed Cousin"
If you are nervous about the hustle, I highly recommend starting with Tunisia. It offers the same stunning architecture and history (like the Ruins of Carthage) but at a much gentler pace. While Morocco is magical, cities like Marrakesh can be exhausting for beginners due to the aggressive "hard sell" in the markets.
2. Modesty is Your Secret Weapon
Even in touristy spots, dressing conservatively opens doors and reduces unwanted attention. I always aim to cover my shoulders and knees. Carrying a light scarf in my bag is my top hack—it’s essential for entering mosques, protecting against the Sahara sun, or quickly covering up if I feel I’m attracting too many stares.
3. Master the Art of the "No"
Haggling is the national sport in the souks (markets). A golden rule I live by: never accept the first price; usually, the fair value is about 1/3 of the opening quote. If you aren't interested, a firm but polite "La, shukran" (No, thank you) while placing your right hand over your heart is the most respectful way to disengage.
>>
4. Practical Daily Survival
Cash is King: While big hotels take cards, you'll need cash for taxis, local markets, and baksheesh (tipping), which is a deep-rooted part of the culture in Egypt and Morocco.
Trust No Tap Water: Never drink the tap water. Even for brushing teeth, I stick to bottled or filtered water to avoid the dreaded "traveler's belly".
Layers for the Desert: The desert is scorching by day but can drop to near-freezing at night. Always pack a warm fleece or jacket, even if you're visiting in the summer.
Ride-Hailing Apps: In chaotic cities like Cairo, use apps like Uber or Careem. It eliminates the stress of negotiating fares and ensures you aren't overcharged by "unregulated" taxis.
5. Security & Connections
For a first-timer, hiring a licensed local guide for your first few days is a game-changer. They act as a "shield" against scammers and help you navigate the labyrinthine alleys of the medinas. As for safety, use basic street smarts: avoid walking alone in dark, isolated alleys at night and keep your bag in front of you in crowded squares like Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Which country are you leaning toward—Morocco, Egypt, or Tunisia? I can give you more specific advice once you pick a destination
>>
>>