Morocco 2019

[Dazzlin]

Tafroute. Still an amazing place, no matter how many times you visit.

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Reeeeaaaaaalllly jealous Phil. Getting withdrawal symptoms and only missed one year since 2013.
Not getting over next year either, got to do Asia for 4 months

Planning new van april-ish 2020 and a trip back over to maroc in 2021.

Keep the pics coming, willing to use my full 2gb/m allowance on Tafraoute pics......

 

[River gypsys]

Err................ I think there is another fiasco going on that is putting many people off.

Starting to worry that if there is no deal it could be problamatic to travel back through France and Spain. Theoretically no International Driving Permit and Comfort now seem to be offering a Green Card (£20) for the EU countries that were previously covered.AS far as I am concerned I have a policy that states I am covered in all the EU until renewal date.................but no doubt in the small print it says they can shaft me any time they want. The local Plod will also want to take part in the fun no doubt.

We're booked on a ferry from santander at the end of april, we do have an IDL but the insurance we have now will have to see us home, I'm sure the Spanish police will be ok just keep smiling

 

[River gypsys]

Anyone coming south from el jadida to oualidia, on the coast road, the road is awful for about 15 km, there's only one carriage way open so you need to keep a look out for on coming traffic,
Maybe take the main road instead

 

[River gypsys]

View attachment 287003 View attachment 287004 View attachment 287005 View attachment 287006 View attachment 287007 View attachment 287008 View attachment 287011 View attachment 287012 View attachment 287013 View attachment 287014 View attachment 287015 View attachment 287016 View attachment 287017 View attachment 287018 Nice little walk this morning revisiting 'Darren's Pass'

Great photos, keep em coming

 

[PhilandMena]

Err................ I think there is another fiasco going on that is putting many people off.

Starting to worry that if there is no deal it could be problamatic to travel back through France and Spain. Theoretically no International Driving Permit and Comfort now seem to be offering a Green Card (£20) for the EU countries that were previously covered.AS far as I am concerned I have a policy that states I am covered in all the EU until renewal date.................but no doubt in the small print it says they can shaft me any time they want. The local Plod will also want to take part in the fun no doubt.

Yes! I know what you mean, plod hiding behind every tree ready to stop every British registered vehicle and check their paperwork. In the words of James May ' Utter Cock'

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[PhilandMena]

W ell ! here we are enjoying beer o'clock and I look up and I swear its @canopus himself looking down on Tafroute to make sure everyone is behaving themselves.
If you look dead centre of this picture you will see his boyish good looks ! Scary or what!

 

[canopus]

Suspect you've been partaking that stuff thats readily available in Fez, Phil? Or overdoing it at beer o clock perhaps?

 

[Busman]

Suspect you've been partaking that stuff thats readily available in Fez, Phil? Or overdoing it at beer o clock perhaps?

Think Mena must of spiked his orange juice with alcohol Ken

 

[billym]

We drove from Midelt to Fez today. What a beautiful , interesting
road with ever changing scenery.
We picked up our second hitch hiker today as we came over the summit of the Col du Zad at over 7000 feet in the middle of nowhere.
He tied his donkey up and climbed in with his huge bags of prickly somethings. Dropped him off in town about 25 kms away. Hope the donkey is OK
The road certainly showed us the haves and the have nots of Morocco from cardboard box houses to golf course complexes , opulent housing and a Royal Palace.
Currently at Diamont Vert Fez which is open

View attachment 285157

Your camel and I will raise you a monkey!

 

[PhilandMena]

Suspect you've been partaking that stuff thats readily available in Fez, Phil? Or overdoing it at beer o clock perhaps?

Just gifted me ole fruit pastel.

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[abforfun]

@PhilandMena update on the N105 to Agadir as requested. First 45K single carriageway, then double carriageway and lots of new edging making it easy travelling. After Ait Baha new double carriageway road

 

[PhilandMena]

@PhilandMena update on the N105 to Agadir as requested. First 45K single carriageway, then double carriageway and lots of new edging making it easy travelling. After Ait Baha new double carriageway road

Thanks Brian, appreciate the heads up. Will be using this route ourselves now the road has been improved. Safe Travels.

 

[PhilandMena]

WARNING NOTICE
Ali & Tim and Mena and I, will be leaving Tafroute week commencing the 11th. So we invite all Funster to join us in a farewell lunch at the Hotel with the empty swimming pool (visited each year bý Funsters). For 2.pm on Sunday 10th. Bring money as you will need to pay for your own food and drink. Afterwards, we will do beer o'clock. Be there or be square, dudes.

 

[Dazzlin]

Book us in for 2021 Phil.

 

[River gypsys]

We drove from Midelt to Fez today. What a beautiful , interesting
road with ever changing scenery.
We picked up our second hitch hiker today as we came over the summit of the Col du Zad at over 7000 feet in the middle of nowhere.
He tied his donkey up and climbed in with his huge bags of prickly somethings. Dropped him off in town about 25 kms away. Hope the donkey is OK
The road certainly showed us the haves and the have nots of Morocco from cardboard box houses to golf course complexes , opulent housing and a Royal Palace.
Currently at Diamont Vert Fez which is open





Your camel and I will raise you a monkey!
View attachment 287147

That's brave, picking up a hitchhiker is something I wouldn't do in any country

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[River gypsys]

Sor

WARNING NOTICE
Ali & Tim and Mena and I, will be leaving Tafroute week commencing the 11th. So we invite all Funster to join us in a farewell lunch at the Hotel with the empty swimming pool (visited each year bý Funsters). For 2.pm on Sunday 10th. Bring money as you will need to pay for your own food and drink. Afterwards, we will do beer o'clock. Be there or be square, dudes.

Sorry to have missed you all, Maybe we'll catch up next year, enjoy hotel tifawine ( English spelling) our favourite food in tafraout

 

[abforfun]

Well the last place to stop in Essaouira has gone. We thought we'd bite the bullet and stop in the s--t camp site for a couple of days but it has closed down. We were assured by a 'guardian' we could overnight on the street near the Medina and paid our 20 dirhams but when we returned late afternoon we felt uncomfortable and checked it out with the local police, who said no wild camping, put the so called guardian in a police van and made him give us our money back

 

[webby1]

A few weeks ago they were handing out notices saying that overnight camping was no longer allowed...........posted on here I think.But the Sid Maghoul camping was well open and probably the best way to visit Essaouira.

But you can use the parking from 7 to 7 and if you want,use one of the campsites outside

 

[jongood]

dawn

breaking over Erg Chebbi

 

[billym]

A long tiring day .in Fes with a guide from Diamont Vert. 360 dhms.

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[PhilandMena]

Well the last place to stop in Essaouira has gone. We thought we'd bite the bullet and stop in the s--t camp site for a couple of days but it has closed down. We were assured by a 'guardian' we could overnight on the street near the Medina and paid our 20 dirhams but when we returned late afternoon we felt uncomfortable and checked it out with the local police, who said no wild camping, put the so called guardian in a police van and made him give us our money back

IMO shutting that campsite was well overdue. Oddly enough park4night shows several different places to overnight but clearly need a updating to reflect current status. It now looks as overnighting in Essaouria is now forbidden. We are, I believe seeing a change taking place in Morocco where the wild parking near the coast is being reduced and campers left with the choice of using campsites, which are improving, or moving further inland where there is still loads of Wild camping options. On the up side, Essaouria is a place that only needs to be visited once.

 

[jongood]

For those with a scooter its easily do-able from Sidi Kaouki - a much nicer place to stay IMHO.

 

[jongood]

Out of interest @billym was the 360mad for the two of you? or each?

 

[Hotelman]

dawn View attachment 287508 View attachment 287508 View attachment 287509 View attachment 287510 breaking over Erg Chebbi

I guess you had no problems getting there and driving through Dades gorge?

 

[jongood]

I guess you had no problems getting there and driving through Dades gorge?

We drove up Dades and stayed Pattes de Singe then scooter up the hilly bit. Mh is ok up there but scooter is more fun and easier stopping for pics

Kasbah erg chebbi is about 1km along piste, bit soft in places but ok if you're careful. Its a great place to have a peaceful evening under the stars.

Merzouga is a bit rough and loud for our taste but did have great fun on a quad yesterday

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[webby1]

For those with a scooter its easily do-able from Sidi Kaouki - a much nicer place to stay IMHO.

But if you don't have a scooter the campsite was perfect (well not exactly perfect)
Perhaps like Fez it will reopen when the right official gets the right amount. And talking of Sidi Kaouki I meant to post this below.

The Sidi Kaouki scam ?????/ for info
A while back I posted how the electricity in Sidi Kaouki was a bit iffy and would power everything except the fridge. @canopus posted some info and photos of the voltage regulator he had bought. Next morning like a sign from above,there was the local electrician standing on our pitch with exactly the same item he had posted about.

It worked well but cost over 500 dh and I have not had any need to use it on any campsite since.
It set me thinking.

1 Maybe@canopus is taking a cut from his Moroccan cousin who sells regulators.

2.Perhaps it was a sign from above and there really is a God

3 Or maybe some of the EHU points do not deliver the correct voltage and they know which ones they are..........presumably if the voltage can be boosted it can also be throttled back.

So each new arrival on the dodgy pitches is then offered a regulator to solve the problem Our neighbours did not have a problem with their fridge and I wish I had asked to try their socket.
SO if you have trouble with the voltage at Sidi Kaouki try a different pitch ( we had 54) before buying a voltage regulator.

Oh yeh ….................and if you do want to buy a voltage regulator.

 

[billym]

Out of interest @billym was the 360mad for the two of you? or each?

It was for two of us but in a group of eight. 10 am start 6.45 pm finish.

We stopped at a restaurant of the guides choice. Excellent three courses 110 dhms each.

We are not used to guided tours but the place is so confusing I am sure it was the right choice. It was a bit rushed though as there is so much to see.
Unfortunately mrs billym did not have time to search through all the fabric shops!

 

[webby1]

Thanks for that info @billym ......................it's good to hear that Diamant Vert is now open as we are looking forward to visiting Fez.

As usual we are trailing behind you and we have reached Mirleft Municipal today, which is actually much better than some reviews would have you believe.

We are considering the guided tour (did you get him from the campsite) but it seems a long day and quite a large group for the price.I know how crazy Fez can be, but we are also considering an overnight Riad and just getting lost in the Medina, as I did almost 50 years ago.

By the way, we watched the Liverpool Derby last night and Carmel wants to thank you again for the Hesgoal.com link.

Perhaps we'll catch up in Spain.

 

[sylvester1954]

Can any of the seasoned Maroc travellers advise me about the road north from Quarzazate to Marrakech {N9) insofar as relatively comfortable or do we have to negotiate any difficult climbs/hairpins etc?

 

[canopus]

1 Maybe@canopus is taking a cut from his Moroccan cousin who sells regulators.

Yeah and maybe your auntie is the Queen of Sheba. FYI there were many people suffering the same problem. The booster we bought was nothing to do with the camp site. The shop was in the town, in fact there were lots for sale in lots of shops, so my take on that, is there were ordinary households are affected.

If all you have to crib about is the cost of the booster, lets hope you don't get caught by cops with the dodgy cameras, and good luck with X ray machine when you get to Tangier Med.

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