Morocco rocks

SANJEETA BAINS GOES ON A MISSION MOST POSSIBLE FOR FANS OF BIG MOVIES

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DODGING a motorbike as it whizzes down a narrow market alleyway is not just a day in the life of an extra on a Bond movie... it's welcome to Morocco.

And I was on a speedy special mission myself... a whistlestop tour of three of the most popular destinations for spies and special agents - Tangier, Rabat and Marrakech.

All have been film locations for those big budget action thrillers: Spectre (Tangier and Marrakech), Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (Rabat) and The Bourne Ultimatum (Tangier).

Located in north west Africa, Morocco's Moorish architecture, with its thronged souk alleyways and mystical medinas, conjure up a tantalising backdrop for intrigue and espionage. But that is just one cultural aspect of the country.

Tangier may date back more than 2,500 years, but it is very modern too.

We arrived at night having flown from Stansted. The palm trees lining the waterfront and the throngs of people out for the night, as we drove to our hotel, made it feel very “Miami”.

We were staying at the Hilton, in the new business district - Tangier City Centre, near the beach.

Eager to sample the buzzing nightlife I went for dinner, wine, and live music at the elegant La Table du Marché.

The restaurant overlooks the city's marina, which juts out into the Strait of Gibraltar separating Europe and Africa.

Our restaurant's menu was also a delicious mix of the two continents.

Dishes included seafood linguine and Harira soup - a traditional Moroccan tomato-based dish with chickpeas and lentils served with dates and crème brûlée for dessert.