I can’t wait to read this.
In “Leaving Tangier”, the author draws on his research as a social psychiatrist that also inspired an earlier novel, “Solitaire”, as a way of exploring psychological and sexual dysfunctions that arise as a result of migration. Azel, an educated, heterosexual young man from Tangier, is unable to find work and becomes obsessed with his desire to escape from Morocco.
Full article here.
I found a few really neat old photos of Morocco, so I’ll be posting them here. The first one says on the back:
FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1935
A CAMERA TOUR OF ANCIENT MOROCCO
NATIVE BOYS FETCHING WATER FROM THE FOUNTAIN IN MARRAKECH OR MOROCCO, THE SOUTHERN CAPITAL OF MOROCCO, FRENCH PROTECTORATE IN NORTHERN AFRICA.
CREDIT LINE (ACME) 7/10/35
Click on the photos to see the large size.
Looks like there might be one Westerner in the photo, can you spot them?
I’ve seen this article tweeted at least a dozen times today:
Wine thrives in Muslim Morocco
“Morocco has become one of the largest winemakers in the Muslim world, with the equivalent of 35 million bottles produced last year. Wine brings the state millions in sales tax, even though Islam appears to be on the rise politically.
…
On paper, wine is “Haram,” or forbidden to Muslims. But Bouchaara said the firm’s distribution is all legal since it only sells to traders authorized by the state, who in turn officially sell exclusively to non-Muslim tourists.”
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha….that’s a good one.
Mehdi Bouchaara is deputy general manager at the Celliers de Meknes, the people who make the only wine I drank on a regular basis in Morocco - Guerrouane Rouge! I guess I’ll give the wink to his politically necessary but silly statement, then. 
Here’s a few more interesting facts from WinePlanet.com:
Morocco
Morocco has 15,000ha (37,000 acres) devoted to wine grapes, with 12 appellation d’origine garantie (AOG) regions.
Berkane and Angad
A small area in the east, making earthy red wines.
Meknes and Fez
The biggest region, producing good reds from high-altitude vineyards beneath the Atlas Mountains. Appellations here include Guerrouane, Beni Sadden and Beni Zerhoune. The wines can be rich and chewy.
Gharb
This includes the appellations of Gharb and Zemmour. From here and to the south comes Gris de Boulaouane, a popular, light rose.
Rabat
This includes the appellations of Gharb and Zemmour. From here and to the south comes Gris de Boulaouane, a popular, light rose.
Casablanca
Coastal vineyards that include the appellation of Zenata.
“The Moroccan government stressed its commitment to freedom of religion despite the expulsion on Sunday (March 29th) of five Christian missionaries. Officials rejected accusations in the media to the contrary.
According to the judicial police in Casablanca, the five expelled missionaries were arrested on Saturday (March 28th) during a proselytising meeting involving Moroccan nationals. Police officers also seized religious materials including books and videos in Arabic.”
Full story at Magharebia here.
Went to check the news today, only to find this tidbit in the upper left. Wonder how long it’s been there?
“Hacked by Chemeur,” indeed.