Cool aunt Sara Darling took her niece to Morocco and discovered beaches, medinas, hammams and haute couture are a perfect mix for teens TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT
T eenage girls like two things in my experience: shopping and their friends. So in order to spend some quality time with my 17-year-old niece, a trip to Morocco was on the cards: shopping for her, and a bit of its famous winter sun – mostly for me! Tangier is not often the introduction to Morocco, but with its sprawling white sand beaches and modern hotels, it turns out to be quite the entrance. Just under three hours from London, and 20 miles from Spain, it boasts all the good things that Morocco is famed for. There’s the classic old medina, Petit Socco: a market square in the heart of the Old Town which has been a meeting place for centuries. Then there’s Grand Socco: a bustling market area that gives you a glimpse of local life. Once known as a haven for artists and writers, Tangier is now famed for being the summer site of the Moroccan Royal Residence; and the city is an intriguing mix of Spanish, Portuguese and French influences. Enjoy a quintessential mint tea at Café Hafa, which offers uninterrupted views of the Strait of Gibraltar, or take a walk along the marina and admire the luxury yachts. When spring kicks in, beaches like Plage Malabata are great for swimming and you can even ride a horse through the waves. Cape Spartel Lighthouse is another local icon, standing sentinel where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.
GRAND DESIGN From top: Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech; Yves Saint Laurent sketch; Tour Hassan, Rabat
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