Originally Posted by
spainlover
You can also find more information on this in the Spain forum. Leaving from Tarifa there is a fast ferry to Tangiers. You can also leave from Algeciras. It's an easy trip. If you're in Gibraltar and would rather fly that is an option as well (although it's a short ferry ride).
I did the Algeciras ferry a while back. Unless things have changed, I'd be prepared for the following:
1) Long lines at the ferry, especially in Spain
2) Touts, touts, and touts in Tangier. No idea if they cleaned it up, but think India on steriods. They hover around and will follow you for blocks. The way I get them to go away was to enter a tourist shop, and say (Spanish will do just fine - when greeted by the clerk/owner - 'No one brought me here, please do not pay anyone a commission". The touts will grimace and then vanish. And then you're good....for about 3 blocks.
3) I found the ferry ride and the awesome views of Gibraltar and the Strait much more enjoyable than Tangier to be honest. Perhaps I was just in a "I'm not having it mood about the touts - Grumpy travel day"
However, the medina is kind of neat, it is Africa, it feels like the Middle East, and its close enough to Spain.