Morocco Adventures

Morocco took a lot of planning. Many blogs read, many routes mapped out and rejected. The final itinerary balanced distances to be travelled, the need to stop and relax and a few must see places. The whole of the route west of the desert towards Marrakech was left for another time as was Asilah in the north.

Reading about Morocco is important but we met none of the problems that others seem to experience. Maybe the time of year, maybe avoiding major tourist spots, maybe good choices of accommodation or maybe people exaggerate.

Here's what we didn't experience:

* Queue jumping at airports. Where were these people pushing in at immigration? Not at Tangier or Fes, that's for sure.

* Long waits to enter / leave the country? Not at Tangier or Fes.

* Terrible Casablanca Airport. Well, we only used the domestic terminal which was clean, friendly, fast RAM check in and it had decent snacks.

* Bad driving. Speed limits were strictly kept to, unsurprisingly considering the police checkpoints at almost every roundabout and junction.

* Dodgy stomachs. We ate fruit, salads, food from roadside restaurants and whatever we were offered. No problems at all.

* Hassle.
- In Chefchaouen, one youth asked if we wanted 'something good'. We said 'No', he walked on.
- In Moulay Idriss, some boys said 'Je t'aime' walking behind Iza. She laughed, slowed down and they walked on past.
- At Volubilis, a guide stood up as we entered, asked if we wanted a guide and sat down again when we said 'No'.
- In Fes, some men in the car park hassled the two lads who drove us up from Errachidia. It wasn't very pleasant for them but wasn't aimed at us.
- In Fes, one man told us that a route was closed. We said 'No, it isn't' and continued. He disappeared.

That was it. Chefchaouen lanes, nothing, Moulay Idriss, nothing, the Oasis, nothing, the dunes, nothing, Fes markets near our hotel, nothing. Just friendliness or, more often, people minding their own business and getting on with whatever they were doing.

Of course, if you consider little kids smiling and saying 'Bonjour' hassle, then it may not be the place for you.