Cafe Tangier: A Western Woman in Morocco

by Patricia Clough

Perched on the north-west tip of Africa, within sight of Spain, Tangier has long been a siren luring enchanted Westerners, occasionally to their doom. As a new arrival—and a single woman at that—Patricia Clough also fell for its intoxicating charm, its dazzling white palaces and maze of alleys, its soaring minarets and shaded courtyards, while feeling disconcerted by customs and a mindset so different from home.

In this evocative memoir, she recounts how the culture shock of her first few days in Tangier—including a citywide festival of sheep sacrifice—merges into colourful expat life. For every wonderful new experience there is evidence of the country’s darker side: the corruption, the crime, the contradictory attitude towards women and sex. But in her ode to the city—part love letter, part history, part exposé—Clough shows just what it is about Tangier that keeps Westerners coming back.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2018

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to Morocco, but having lived there myself, I felt she really missed the heart the culture - the people.
I recommend it for anyone planning to move there or spend a lot time to give a background and explain a few of the customs and formalities.

[Tracy Hollen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not bad, and she conveys her love for the place quite well. It's just not very interesting. It's almost like she is trying to decide to make it a book or not.