I'm a Stranger Here Myself

Tangier sits at the edge of a modern resort and a centuries‑old medina, with the Place de France pulsing as its central hub. Cafés spill onto sun‑lit sidewalks, while the streets teem with Berbers, Europeans, Asians, and a colorful cast of expatriates, smugglers, and ex‑royalty. The narrator, newspaper in hand, watches this lively, slightly chaotic tapestry, noting that every face seems to carry its own secret.

At the Café de Paris he meets Paul, a laid‑back Liverpool expatriate, and they share beer, tapas, and idle chatter about Soviet satellites and the ever‑present rumor of flying saucers over the harbor. Their banter mixes dry humor with sly observations about the city’s mix of espionage, romance, and absurdity. The tone suggests a witty, observant tour through a place where the ordinary and the extraordinary sit side by side.