A new adventure to Africa

[The Boofles]

Thank you for your thread - very informative and a great read plus fantastic photos. Have a safe onward journey and I look forward to your next adventure.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Morning! Well ferry was a pain in the butt! We had arrived at the port at 6pm and on pulling up next to the ticket kiosks area opposite the cash kiosks two guys with cards hanging round their necks came out from between the kiosks and asked us what ferry we wanted on. We asked if possible to get on the earlier 7pm one and they were very animated and said quick get your your passports and Paul ran round to the kiosks with them.

Before entering the port area someone had already tried to flag us down and sell us tickets when we already have our ticket and had said so. So I said are you sure it's not a scam. Anyway Paul comes back it was a scam of sorts as they were trying to sell him tickets to a different ferry and actually just wasting our time to get on on the earlier ferry.

Paul tried to check us in at the correct ferry kiosk but the whole port system was down apparently so come back in half an hour. Still down so definitely not getting the 7pm. Several trips to kiosk in the pissing rain and wind between then and finally at 8.30 we get booked on the 10pm.

Get parked up at the very front of a row looking out at the water with huge trucks all round us but no ferry. Long wait and then we get taken what feels like a big circle round the port following a lead car we finally get on the boat about 11.30. We're put on 1st in a very back corner and then surrounded by massive lorries and the boat doesn't leave for another hour. Had a bit of a snooze on the boat.

2am we are docking and of course practically last off and then sat at the very back of a massive queue of lorries being checked so it's 3.30am by the time we get parked up near Carrefour with lots of other motorhomes.

Anyway had a good few hours sleep and Paul is still snoozing but I thought I'd just let others know of the experience. Definitely be careful and go to the kiosk for your ferry and not sure if we were unlucky but perhaps the 10pm ferry is best avoided as is mainly freight lorries.

Thanks for everyone who followed us on our new adventure in Morocco. For me it was quite reassuring somehow, especially as some of you have been before. It has been 80 percent positive for me but some very difficult things to see in between the wonderful things. That final drive from the Roman ruins was definitely the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. Just unbelievable amounts of trash, poverty and strays not an area I ever want to see again.

If anyone has a soft touch for the beldis (street dogs) here please consider sending a few pounds to one of these rescues. They are doing amazing things here and your money will make a real difference.

Home - Beldi Refuge | Get to know our dog shelter in Morocco

A Home for the Beldis in the Rif Mountains The Beldi Refuge is a dog rescue and a home for stray dogs where they can recover. Help us What we do Animal Rescue Medical care Finding forever Homes Providing Love Vaccinating Neutering How you can help Adopt Each and every one of our furry friends […]

beldi-refuge.org

Home | SARA Morocco

Millions of animals in Morocco are destined for a difficult life, but with your help, SARA Morocco can ensure they receive the love and care they deserve.

www.saramorocco.com

Thanks Helen x

 

[Mikey RV]

Really enjoyed your Morocco part of your trip and great photos. Thanks for taking the time to post. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Roger S]

Really enjoyed reading your post and seeing the pics

Thank you

 

[scousebird]

Thanks for taking us with you. Safe trip home.

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[Northernraider]

I remember the ferry being a complete faff ... spent hours waiting to get boarded. It seems so unnecessarily complicated.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I remember the ferry being a complete faff ... spent hours waiting to get boarded. It seems so unnecessarily complicated.

Ditto.

 

[Al-Di]

Thanks for the Adventure.

 

[3DOM]

Really enjoyed the trip and some great pictures.
Thanks for taking us along with you and look forward to the next adventure.
Safe journey home.

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Have loved following your exotic adventure as I know it’s something we will never do! safe journey home

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[Nirvanauk]

How many puppies did Helen manage to sneak on board?

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Look forward to the next phase in your adventure.... Spain. Really enjoyed the Africa section.

 

[Helen Ariel]

We’ve had a great day in Malaga. Knackered now so we’ll do an update in the morning.

Thanks for the kind words everyone, Paul

 

[Riverbankannie]

Thanks for taking us along on your trip. Sad that it ended with such hassle but must be good of you are considering going back. Not for us though.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

We’ve had a great day in Malaga. Knackered now so we’ll do an update in the morning.

Thanks for the kind words everyone, Paul

We really like Malaga. The modern art museum is good.

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[PxJ]

Thanks for all the time it takes out of your days for sharing some fantastic pics & information, it’s all really appreciated as you are no doubt aware from all the positive comments from many, who including myself will never get the chance to explore such amazing destinations

 

[ivorantony]

Just back in Spain from our first motorhome tour of Morocco, we are both 74 so never say never

 

[Helen Ariel]

Great day in Málaga yesterday. The metro is such a great way to get into the centre and costs something ridiculous like 30 cents a journey if you buy 5 euros credit. Sushi lunch, lovely wander through town and around the Marina with a couple of stops at bars and some tapas to finish. Back for an early night after our 3.30am arrival from Morocco.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Some Malaga street art pics, as well as some beautiful buildings.

Incredibly lucky to see not one, but two works from the highly respected artist called Space Invader!

These are pretty rare so to see two in a day was great.

22c at 18:30 walking back from the locals bar to the Metro.

Paul

 

[mikebeaches]

Only wandered around Malaga once, but thought the city was lovely.

So many folk flying in on package holidays to Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella - and miss Malaga altogether.

Weather looks great.

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[Gina M]

Some Malaga street art pics, as well as some beautiful buildings.

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Incredibly lucky to see not one, but two works from the highly respected artist called Space Invader!

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These are pretty rare so to see two in a day was great.

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22c at 18:30 walking back from the locals bar to the Metro.

Paul

I see quite a lot of litter again

 

[Helen Ariel]

Only wandered around Malaga once, but thought the city was lovely.

So many folk flying in on package holidays to Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella - and miss Malaga altogether.

Weather looks great.

It is a beautiful city. I’ve always loved it and totally agree with you about people missing out by going straight from the airport to the resorts, but I suppose if you’ve only got a weeks holiday.
We’ve lucked out with the weather as it’s been rainy for a few days before we arrived. We did keep an eye on the forecast so did a big drive in Morocco on our last day due to the weather being rubbish. What really got to us was the humidity in Algeciras the morning after we arrived. It was such a difference from the dry air from Morocco which literally made our noses hurt!

Paul

 

[CaptainPaul]

Here's a little reminder for you as Dawn breaks over Marrakech it's to be 31° here today (just saying like) but anyway this pic needs the telephone lines etc removed with someones on heres expertise perhaps Riverbankannie or Helen Ariel

 

[Helen Ariel]

I see quite a lot of litter again

Oh no we've been saying since we got in to Spain how amazingly clean and smart everything feels. Even the sides of the motorways were immaculate. Think there is one shot there where some paper slips had blown down the pavement as it's been windy but honestly after seeing Morocco's waste problem I don't think I'll ever moan about a few bits of litter on a pavement again.

I don't think I can get across how absolutely terrible the situation was there. Litter isn't even the right word for it as it suggests someone dropping a piece of something they've just consumed because they can't be bothered to find a bin. Waste is a better word. Imagine all the waste a human produces going about their lives.. plastic, glass, food, nappies, building waste, everything just dumped in heaps at the side of the road, into rivers or in fields then pulled apart by dogs and birds and blown for miles and miles.

This is around every small village and town as there is no waste collection, no landfill sites, no incinerators. I think perhaps the large developed cities have some sort of system but everywhere else is just left to themselves. It's really tragic and the Moroccan government need to do something about it.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Here's a little reminder for you as Dawn breaks over Marrakech it's to be 31° here today (just saying like) but anyway this pic needs the telephone lines etc removed with someones on heres expertise perhaps Riverbankannie or Helen Ariel
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Here you go

31! That's too hot. Spain at the moment is 23 high, just perfect temperature for doing stuff and not getting lethargic or too sweaty. Off for a big mountain bike ride today

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[CaptainPaul]

31! That's too hot

Yes but it's Valentines day and we're booked into restaurant Luma for a nice meal tonight so we'll have to just leisurely saunter around the shops & souks today buying more stuff we don't actually need

 

[Helen Ariel]

Yes but it's Valentines day and we're booked into restaurant Luma for a nice meal tonight so we'll have to just leisurely saunter around the shops & souks today buying more stuff we don't actually need

Enjoy. We loved our 2 days there. Nomad is also great for rooftop dining.

 

[Northernraider]

Oh no we've been saying since we got in to Spain how amazingly clean and smart everything feels. Even the sides of the motorways were immaculate. Think there is one shot there where some paper slips had blown down the pavement as it's been windy but honestly after seeing Morocco's waste problem I don't think I'll ever moan about a few bits of litter on a pavement again.

I don't think I can get across how absolutely terrible the situation was there. Litter isn't even the right word for it as it suggests someone dropping a piece of something they've just consumed because they can't be bothered to find a bin. Waste is a better word. Imagine all the waste a human produces going about their lives.. plastic, glass, food, nappies, building waste, everything just dumped in heaps at the side of the road, into rivers or in fields then pulled apart by dogs and birds and blown for miles and miles.

This is around every small village and town as there is no waste collection, no landfill sites, no incinerators. I think perhaps the large developed cities have some sort of system but everywhere else is just left to themselves. It's really tragic and the Moroccan government need to do something about it.

I agree ..the waste in Morocco has to be seen with your own eyes to believe it. So does the poverty.

 

[helzie2020]

A lot of the plastic waste appeared to be plastic bottles. The 1 litre and 0.5 litre bottle sizes. Everywhere. Plus lots of broken glass in the remotest of places.
We always managed to find a rubbish bin but nothing seems to be recycled apart from the 5 litre water containers which are generally reused for storing olives etc. I had it in mind to write a letter to the King to point the rubbish issue out. All the "Royal" palaces we drove past were immaculate .neat gardens and not a single piece of rubbish anywhere.

I bought a Brita filter carafe specifically for this Morocco trip to minimise how much bottled water we would use here as I had read that there was a problem recycling plastic.

We do still buy plastic bottles of water but only for when we want to drink the water as is. For tea and coffee, we are using "drinking" water from campsites, which we then filter and boil. And we only use the water from our tank for washing.

 

[paddymcc]

Thanks for sharing your trip, the Sahara photos were truly stunning

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