Tuesday, January 16, 2024 – Chefchaouen, Morocco
Jan 20th, 2024 by rallyadmin
We are on the road to Algeciras to queue for the Ferry loading at 7:20. In the port by 8:00 and almost immediately start loading the ferry. There are very few trucks and cars to load so we are in the updeck lounge by 8:30 having cappuccino and a delicious chocolate tart. In line for the on-board Moroccan Immigration which again doesn’t take very long because there are so ew people on board this crossing.
There are a number for destinations in Tangier, Morocco for the ferry crossing. We choose Tangier-Med which ports outside of the city of Tangier. There is less civilian traffic this way because the this port is quite a way to the city center. This is primarily the lorry crossing and when we get to the port, departure runs smoothly and quickly.
Unfortunately, that is the end of the smoothly and quickly. Moroccan customs X-rays all vehicles before you even get to customs. We queue up again and 7 or so vehicles at a time drive on to this raised ramp, the drivers get out and a truck with a framework attached which does the actual x-raying drives up the queue. Then it’s back in the car and up to the real customs inspection.
The real inspection can be anywhere from the drug dog sniffing the car to a full emptying the car and all packages opened. We get off easy with just a doggie sniff and a cursory look in the boot. “Thank you so much.” Another officer takes the driver’s (Pinky in this case) driver’s license and the car documents and wanders off to run them through the computer.
Meanwhile, a customs agent is tearing apart a Moroccan vehicle that has a huge load piled up on the roof. Searching everything. Waiting for hours to get cleared or arrested. Our paperwork taking quite a while and we talk with a young female custom agent while we’re waiting.
Finally, out of customs and on to a lot just outside the customs area to buy car insurance, a Moroccan telecom sim card and change euros into Moroccan dirhan. After we get everything sorted we’re on the road to Chefcheouan, the blue city.
It’s not a long drive and we stop in Tetouan for lunch at a highly rated resort restaurant. The patio we are lunching on has a great view down the valley that we have driven up and there is a storm chasing us. We have lunch and just as we are thinking of leaving, a fierce gust of wind blows plates and glasses on to the floor with resounding sounds of breaking glass. We quickly duck inside, par the bill and leave for our night in Chefcheouan.
It rains heavily on the way but lightens up as we park outside the city walls of the old city of Chefcheouan. It’s a short walk to the hotel. We check in and break for a while until hiking down the hill to a restaurant that we ate in last year. I’m checking email and the rest leave without me. I’ll catch them up later.
On my way out of the hotel I ask for a map to find the restaurant that everyone has already left for. Out the hotel door take a right and another right and head down hill. That takes me to another gate outside the old city but I know I’ve missed the main square where the restaurant is. I as for a few directions and head back up the hill. “Just go up the stairs there and it’s on your right.”
Up the stairs and miss the turn to the square again. Ask directions again, “Do you want some hash?” “No, but can you tell me how to find the main square.” “Sure you don’t want hash? Very strong and cheap.” “No, thank you. Where’s the square.” Finally some one takes pity on me and leads me to the square. I thank him with a couple of euro and join everyone for dinner.
It’s been raining this whole time but only lightly. Not like last year when it came down in buckets turning the narrow cobble stoned streets into torrents. But we a have a good dinner (kefta tagine and salad) and then wander back up to the hotel with no dramas.
Up the stairs and into bed. It’s been a long, long day. Tomorrow, the drive to Fez.
Obi-wan