2014 Morocco

Chilling out day today. Had BBC Solent on through the internet for most of the day. Interesting to catch up with local news and weather.

The day has been very overcast and windy so the batteries will be well down by tomorrow morning. Looking in the books and on the net to where we might get to tomorrow. I think that we will need to get onto a electric hookup as we are likely to be stood for 4 nights at our friends village before we move on Monday morning. We have a couple of alternatives.

Tina suggested that we go across to the Cafe / Bar for lunch. We each had the smallest omelette and chips I have ever seen and a coffee each all for €10. Expensive I think.

This afternoon did some research on the internet and this evening watching the football on line. I will miss the internet access when we leave here in the morning. There are 15 vans on the site this evening.

First thing in the morning I got chatting to the english guy who was on his own in his motorhome but due to meet his dutch partner who was travelling down from Holland in her own vehicle.

We left at about 10:30 and decided en route to change where we would stay tonight. Looking through the reference books I have we chose a ‘free\’ site at a restaurant. The book states that we should have a meal in the restaurant in consideration of it being free. We duly obliged in the late afternoon.

The menu consisted of many seafood dishes which neither of us like so we ended up with Sirloin steak for Tina and a Duck breast for me. The restaurant was high quality with prices to match. It would have been cheaper to stay on a site with electric. Hey ho … you only live once. They did give me the WIFI code so once again I have access to the internet. We may stay an extra day as the setting here is delightful.You can see more at www.restaurantestany.com

We started our journey today at around 9:30am. The intention was to do about 250km however it didn’t quite work that way. We ended up taking a wrong turn and joining a toll road. What was worse is that this road took us away from the coast and up into the mountains. We were unable to turn around so had to continue on. It sure got cold especially in amongst the low cloud. The temperature got down to 6*C at one point. Some days ago I did look at this route and planned for a tsp along the way however I didn’t know how high the road was at the time. We opted to continue on towards the coast at Alicante.

Some 512km later (318 miles) we arrived at the parking area. The drive along the shore line gave us a feeling that we could be staying at an interesting place. It was because it was a building site. We made a meal and ate it and during this time I locked on to an unlocked WIFI signal and got Tina another book from the Kindle store which we downloaded to the iPads. The kindle screen got broken many days ago and we cannot use it at present.

I decided that we would look for somewhere else to stay so we arrived about half an hour later at Ibi in the dark. There was one van there who happened to be english. Over all we travelled 560km today which is the longest I thick we have done in a day in the van. However all of the roads were motorway standard so it was easy driving.

I did pick up some free unlocked WIFI in the evening until I think they turned the router off at around 10pm. Time for bed me thinks.

On to Valencia in the morning.

We are on a large car park next to a golf complex. Much of the car park is hard standing but some is covered in grass which is where we are. Last night Tina countered 35 vans here whilst she was walking the ‘boys’.

We awoke this morning to find a market being set up on the other side of us. We had a wander around and bought some fruit and Tina some underwear. Much of the market is similar to any you would find in the UK. However, what was extraordinary was there seemed to be more british voices than locals and all of the traders could speak some english. It must be popular with the tourists visiting the hotels nearby throughout the year.

Listening to local radio in the afternoon and the Bournemouth match commentary. Its a shame it was a draw as it sounded like we deserved the win.

Moving on tomorrow towards Alicante

We woke after a good nights rest. Behind us were some english vans who were about to leave to get the midday ferry to Morocco. I was able to share some of our experiences and gave one chap a card for the garage we had used. He had made a hole in the rear of his van the day before.

Tina and I had a look around Leroy Merlin (B&Q type shop) and I bought a couple of adjustable spanners so that I can refit the gas bottles. We then moved down to Lidl where we did a weekly shop. Good that we could get lots of the things we like but missed from Morocco.

We traveled along the coast to Golf Noria and parked up for the afternoon. The sun shone and the temperatures were high. Lovely. I was able to lock on to unlocked WIFI signal which may well come from on of the local hotels. It allowed us to make internet calls to the family. The grandchildren couldn’t understand why we were in the computer. Only two weeks and we will be home.

I set up a blog site for a friend we met on our travels who is spending the next couple of years traveling around Europe. The van they are using is smaller than ours so they are having to be very organised to cope.

Decided to stay on tomorrow and have a relaxed day before we start travelling everyday to get up to the south of France.

The morning started with a quick service of the Van … filled with water, empty waste and cassette. We are heading for Asilah before getting the boat. However close to our destination Tina suggests that we go straight to the port as we were short on cash.

During our drive through Rabat I failed to notice a traffic light was flashing amber (or at least thats what I told the policeman). I was immediately flagged down and pulled to the side of the road by the local police office. He tried to explain what I had done wrong in arabic and french but I failed to understand … I really did know! The instant fine was 700dh (about £55) and I then proceeded to try and explain that I did not have any money and that we were on our way back to Spain. I showed him my wallet with just about enough for the tolls and a little more. He finally took out of his breast pocket 100dh and exchanged it for my only 200dh note left. This was now my fine. No paperwork but I was grateful for a reduced penalty payment of £8.

We stopped for lunch at some services just before reaching the port. We finally arrived at the port at about 2:30pm and was told that we might get on the 4pm boat but then an official told us to come back at 5pm for our ticket. After getting our ticket at the allotted time we proceeded through a mobile x-ray scanner, sniffer dogs, police checks for our vehicle export and passport checks before finally arriving at the dockside. The 7pm boat arrived a few minutes late but we didm’t get loaded until nearer 8:30pm and it sailed about 30mins later.

In the cafe we met Richard, a biker on holiday with his friend Yves, and returning to Perpignan after a two week holiday. He has lived in france for 20+ years and spoke perfect french. We also met a Moroccan truck driver who wanted to practice his english. He treated us with the cost of one meal with a voucher he had. During the voyage he gave me the best directions through Spain to France and even gave me an old copy of a map for me to use. At around 10:45 pm european time we landed at Algeciras.

The next part of the journey was again torturous as we had to wait in line whilst the police search all the vehicles. Finally we got through the port which was a great relief because of the concern of bringing the dogs back into Europe. The officials neither noticed or cared so I was not about to be castrated by Tina for losing the dogs. Next challenge will be Calais.

We made our way back to Algeciras Lidl where it all started and once again there were 40+ vans on the car park. We finally rolled into bed at 11:45pm (European time) exhausted.

Up early again and set off at 09:30am.

We had a discussion last night and decided that we would make our way to the port on Thursday instead of going to Fez etc. Tina has been increasingly finding the culture here in Morocco difficult to deal with. She sees donkeys being beaten and the abject poverty and wants to get back to Europe so that she no longer is reminded of these things.

Whilst driving along I was reflecting on the english guy who came into the van yesterday. His name was Andy and was married to Assma and they had a new born of 2 months named Hind together with the sister Marouane. During the conversation he mentioned that Assma’s hair was breaking at neck level and Tina suggested a few causes. It turns out that she heats it too often and damages it. He also said that in the moroccan culture he “owns” her hair and he is the boss. Tina felt offended by these remarks on behalf of the woman. It seems that he is going back to the UK when his visa runs out at the end of March. I expect that Assma will have to return to her fathers house as she can’t speak any english and has no chance yet of getting a wife visa.

Andy talked about her family and the village where her father and uncles lived. They survive on a diet of bread and sweet tea made with lots of sugar. They don’t have meat or vegetables in their diet as a rule.It is a meagre existence they live.

This afternoon had another sort out in the van and created some space in the garage so that we could empty the shower. It will make it so much easier to use whilst we travel up through Spain. Our friends are expecting us in about a week and we hope to take the dogs to the vet for their checkup for the pet passport on the following Monday. Then the final sprint up to Calais for the tunnel.

On a hookup tonight and making use of the free WIFI offered by the site. The cost tonight is 90dh (£7)

We had a good nights sleep even though I did hear the guardiens behind us during the night.

I woke Tina a little earlier than usual and she has been feeling a little better today. We stopped en route at a Marjane (Supermarket) and bought a few essentials and she also went into a pharmacy and got something for her chesty cough. Lets hope it works.

We stopped for lunch at a small beach site at El Beddouza. It was a lovely spot and would have been good to have stayed the night. We were right by the sea with the Atlantic waves crashing in however they had put up signs saying that Pets and Camping were banned. Real shame.

We moved on to our intended over night stop of Oualidia. Big car park close to the beach and 25Dh a night (£2). No sooner had we put the handbrake on we had all of the street vendors trying to sell their wares. We had Crab, Sole, Fruit and even someone taking orders for his wife’s home cooked Tagine. We declined all offers.

This evening we had an english guy come around looking to see if there were any brits here. He is married to a Moroccan girl and they have just had a baby. They also had the wives sister who was 15 with them. He is renting an apartment here during his 3 month stay and is looking to use his tent and perhaps stay on some guardien parking areas. It was interesting to hear some of the background to how they met and married. He could speak arabic which he has learnt over the last couple of years but his wife could only speak arabic. She could not read or write in her native language and could not read any of the road signs. Neither of the sisters could speak french. We gave him some tea bags and a tin of baked beans for them to try and they went on their way after an interesting couple of hours.

Tomorrow we plan to go to a site in Mohammedia we used on day 16. We might get some washing done here.

It rained in the night which was the first rain we had seen for many days. However the temperature during the night was warm compared to the coolness in the mountains at night.

We set of for our destination to the north. Before we reached Taghazout I was stopped for speeding. I was doing 72 k.p.h. in a 60 k.p.h. stretch. The police here give out an instant fine which in my case was 300 Dh (about £22.50) but I pleaded that we were on our way home and didn’t have a lot of money. He let me off with a fine of 200 Dh (about £15). No receipt or paperwork was offered or given so not sure where the cash will end up!

Next stop was Taghazout village where we obtained some more bottled water, bread and yoghurts. Then on with the journey. The road followed the coast for part of the way before turning inland. It was twisting and up and down mountains. It took about 3 hours to reach the town of Essaouira.

We are parked in a guardien parking area for the night. I have had the van washed for the price of 70 DH (about £5) by an enterprising young man. We have had the usual band of street vendors trying to sell us all sorts of things – Car wipers, Jewellery, Carpets, pictures. We have yet to have the fruit offered…. they may still be around yet.

Been making plans for our trip home when we get to Spain / France. We are going to visit some friends we met a few years back who live close to Perpignan. Should be there over the weekend of 22nd / 23rd Feb. They are going to make an appointment for us to take the dogs to the vet on the monday morning so that they can get back into the UK. It will then leave us just over 3 days to get back to Calais. Lots of driving but it should be a good end to the holiday.

Had a fry up for dinner and we used the last of the fresh strawberries. Not bad for winter eh! Starting to eat out of the stock of food we brought with us. Really do not want to take it home.

Tina has been a little better today. Had a sleep this afternoon whilst I had a short walk around the Medina. Would like to spend a little more time here but that is something we don\’t have now.

On to Oualidia tomorrow – another guardien parking area. Tonight cost 25dh (£2). Where else could you get this value for money.

Its finally come … the day we have to start to make our way home. We made the van ready for travel and left the site at around 10:30 am. We said our good byes to the friends we have met over the last few weeks and had some wonderful laughs. It was sad but we are now ready to go. The sun was shining and once again starting to raise the temperatures.

We travelled north through the mountains on a scenic route which was made up of two halves. The first was twisting up and down the mountains on single track tarmac road with compacted gravel sides. Our progress was steady and the scenary breathtaking. We stopped once to let a few children have some sweets. Tina decided to give them the rest of the tin of heroes which was almost half a tin. Not satisfied they asked for pencils which she duly obliged. I am sure they thought that all their christmases had come together.

The second half of the journey was on the plain where the roads were wider and faster to travel. We stopped in a large town and purchased some bananas and strawberries. It is so nice to have fresh strawberries in Winter. We pushed on and arrived at Agadir around 1:30 pm.

We could have pushed on to reach our final destination but we hadn’t had lunch and the journey was at least 3 hours so we made the decision to stay in Agadir. I looked for some guardien parking near the beach and we stumbled upon the sport which by a hotel and only 50m from the promenade.

Later in the afternoon we strolled the promenade with the dogs. Many locals were out as well as it was Sunday and their day off. There were one or two brave souls swimming but lots of activity on the beach.

Tomorrow we will push on to Essaouira