Here we are again. Morocco. Why have we come a 4th year running? Well, from the moment you confront the border, you are bombarded with a culture so different that your brain swirls with confusion and you feel alive. Out of the comfort zone and into the travellers dream.
And out of the comfort zone we were. At Algeciras , we set off in the early hours to catch the ferry to Tanger Med, a 'safe' port of entry as it is modern and out of town. But alas, it was cancelled due to the gale force wind blowing. So a man says 'get on the boat foe Ceuta, that's running' So we do just that as hanging around all day is not a good option. As we reach the ticket office, we are waved through as if we are are late! Straight onto the boat and into confusion! Where's our ticket? Here's our ticket! That's not a ticket! Yes it is! and the boss, who rips our ticket in half, says go ahead as Krysia yelps ' Don't rip our ticket, that's a return' No one takes any notice until a young english speaking cadet says.' Don't worry, they're Spanish and won't speak in any other tongue, I'll see you on the other side and try and sort it out. They usually make you get off the boat and go back to the ticket office but hey, you're on your way so .....' We're on our way. Super fast catamaran flying through gale force straights of Gibraltar. 35 minutes and we're in Ceuta, which is a part of Spain. No sign of english cadet on key side so.........on we go, we'll sort out the return on the return and now's as good a time as any to start using the phrase ' Insha'Allah' or what will be will be!
Border next! Fantastic. total mayhem as we remember it from 3 years ago. Aloof looking officials taking absolutely no notice of you, small crowded booths with 1 official inside, looking totally nonplussed at all the eager people waiting to get home or on with their travels. This is Morocco and time means something different here, wait patiently and try not to be too friendly to anyone who wants to help you. Even though it is plainly obvious that you do need help.!! I am supposed to be prepare for this but when it comes to the vehicle immigration booth I fail miserably on my attempt to import not only my van but my bike as well. I say my because the two vehicles are in my name but after an aloof fellow discards my attempt as irrelevant, I have to get Krysia to fill out all the forms, in the rain and wind, to import the bike!!! in her name. ? What do i care, it just seems to be made up on the spot by whoever happens to be dealing with it. We just want to go into Morocco for a holiday! and so we do and at last we are driving south amongst fields full of shepherds tending their flocks.
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