My wife and I will be visiting the South of Spain in November. We would like to take a day trip to Tangier. Unfortunately, my wife has a phobia of snakes and I am concerned that an encounter with a snake charmer would ruin the visit. Can anyone advise on how many we might pass upon our arrival via ferry and if there is a way to avoid them altogether? Thanks!
Posted by
the Middle Coast
292 posts
I don't know that I've ever seen a snake charmer in Tangier. I associate them with Marrakech, and even then the snakes are often not real! You will see people with camels on the beaches in Tangier, and occasionally donkeys waiting for photo ops near places like Cap Spartel.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I also never saw a snake over a few visits to Tangier, nor in Fes and many other parts of Morocco (but I can't speak to destinations south of Marrakech). Only famous in Marrakech's main square.
Posted by
OP
Edmonds, WA
5 posts
Thanks for the info. They were mentioned in the Steves' book with a couple of photos. This will help with our travel plans.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5508 posts
I saw a snake charmer in a large square in the Kasbah. It was pretty easy to keep your distance.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5256 posts
Our guide took us to view a 'snake tormentor' who was sat outside the restaurant where a large number of guides took their clients. The snakes were real but we had no interest in this cruelty and told the guide. He seemed a bit deflated because we didn't want to ride the camels either.
Apart from this one encounter I don't recall seeing any others but I wasn't particularly looking out for any. It's a busy, chaotic place so I couldn't say for certain that there wouldn't be any to encounter.
My personal opinion would be to not bother with Tangier, a real waste of a day. If you want to be able to say that you've been to Africa then by all means go otherwise I'd recommend seeing more of Spain.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15576 posts
A friend of mine was in Morocco a few years ago and has a "treasured photo" of himself with a large snake. I was in many places in Morocco last fall (though not Tangier), including two visits to the bazaar in Marrakech where they are known to be, never saw one. . . . and trust me, if there'd been any, one of the guys on the tour would have made sure everyone saw it.
Posted by
7642 posts
Skip Tangier, there are some great places to visit in Morocco, but Tangier is not one.
Marrakesh, Fes and Rabat are great.
I remember coming across a snake charmer in Morocco, in a small city in the north back in the 80s. With the narrow streets, not sure what will be around the corner.