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Sometimes is not easy to understand if the incoming van is a local bus or just a normal van. The first time you see one you'll probably stop it not understand its a bus.. they're anyway nice and if you explain you don't have money (something like "makeneis fluss" in Arabic) they'll either go away without any complaints or maybe give you a free ride. __TOC__
* [http://askamylin.blogspot.com/2009/02/morocco.html Amylin's excellent advice on getting along in Morocco]
[[trash:Morocco]]
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|avp = Morocco
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Hitching in '''Morocco''' is good despite the scarcity of vehicles on some routes. If you're doing it in hot seasons bring a ''big'' bottle of water, a hat, and maybe a book to read. In winter consider staying short-sleeved during the day. Expect to freeze at night though (especially above 800 m of altitude), so plan some "onion layers" clothes.
Far from the big cities you won't need any special spot: everywhere looking like a safe place (ie: cars not going to fast/can see you from far/can stop almost safely) will be fine. The traffic in the countryside is never too big and they can really stop everywhere, sometimes even in spite of the most basic driving rules. You can experience a large variety of lifts: slow drivers and crazy drivers, brand new luxury cars and (especially) 30 years old car, sometimes you can find yourself very packed with many people, or on the back of a van/pick-up.
Sometimes is not easy to understand if the incoming van is a local bus or just a normal van. The first time you see one you'll probably stop it not understand its a bus.. they're anyway nice and if you explain you don't have money (something like "makeneis fluss" in Arabic) they'll either go away without any complaints or maybe give you a free ride.
European-style gas station hitchhiking is possible on the motorways, which are quite busy and in very good shape. They are a good way to cover long distances in a short time, especially between the big cities. The employees might not allow you to approach drivers at gas stations, but will usually offer to find a ride for you, which might seem weird at first, and also seems to take longer than asking people yourself, but definitely works. Otherwise, the rest area and restaurant are often separate from the gas station and there are no employees there, so they are also a good spot to ask drivers.
== Cities ==
* [[Chefchaouen]]
* [[El Jadida]]
* [[Errachidia]]
* [[Essaouira]]
* [[Fes]]
* [[Larache]]
* [[Marrakech]]
* [[Meknes]]
* [[Mohammedia]]
* [[Ouarzazate]]
* [[Rabat]]
* [[Tangier]]
* [[Tetouan]]
'''See also:''' [[File:2.jpg|thumb|right|Tonypro getting a lift on the N13 between Erfoud and Merzouga during a sandstorm.Western Sahara]]
== Language ==
The official language is Arabic though the dialects spoken in Morocco and [[Algeria]] are significantly different from Modern Standard Arabic and dialects found in the [[Middle East]] and other parts of [[Africa]]. French is a common language of business and among educated people and in major cities will be almost universally understood. Many people in the north speak Spanish, and you will likely also find it useful in Western Sahara. The major Berber languages are fascinating but the effort required to learn them is probably too great for a casual tourist.
While spoken by some educated people and those who work in tourism, English is of little use. Be very careful if approached by someone speaking English, they are often looking to make a profit, legitimate or not.
In some places, especially near trucking routes, there are semi-permanent tents made of plastic sheeting wrapped around a timber frames. These are usually empty though you may want to ask first.
If the night is coming close and you're in a rural area, you will often find groups of women sitting outside and talking. If you ask them for a place to set up your tent, you will usually be shown a corner somewhere close to peoples' houses where you can then camp with some "protection".
=== Getting invited into people's homes ===
If you are humble and kind, you will easily receive invitations. Sometimes the hospitality is exhausting and you may want to take a cheap hotel for some privacy and space to breathe.
== Personal Experiences Hospitality ==[[User: Fedecicco| Fede]] was caught wild camping three times Morocco is famous for its hospitality and detained by if you spend some time hitchhiking around the policecountry, once in Azilalsomeone will sooner or later invite you for tea,on the atlas mountainsfood, asking for or a spot near a mosqueplace to sleep. To be polite, and to find out whether the security didnt authorised him until arrive of cops (amn watani) who treated him politely and explained they must force him go invitation is genuine, it is wise to a hotelrefuse at least once. Second If people really want to invite you they will insist, and you can accept in good conscience after the second or third time . Sometimes, people might offer you to stay with them if you ever come to their town, but only do so out of politeness, in Sa'idya (border which case it might not be very nice to respond with Algeria and something like "maximum suspectyeah, definitely, what's your number, so I can call you when I get there?") while hitchhiking brought at police station with a ridiculous scam (policeman said "this friend of mine . But many people also genuinely want to help you out and will bring u offer you to take down their phone number in case you need a better spot") place to stay or any help at all, and kept hours checking documents if you feel like they are serious about it, it is definitely not rude to accept and questions; last in Chefchaouen where nocturnal guardian directly called call them (kept 5 hours, taken fingerprints and the day after threaten later if you want to take them up on it. It might be expelled from a good idea to make yourself aware of the "kingdom" if he didn't leave the city). Each time police clarified that it was illegal sleep in the streets or overall social / economic situation of people who invite you, as guest by moroccans you might meet both very rich and very poor people, and even a very poor person might offer to pay for "security reasons"food, transport or other expenses, i.eeven if they cannot really afford it. according to them and that lawIn these cases, any foreigner must go if someone invites you to a hotel or guesthouse every spend the night unless mergency situation where u dont have alternatives. Of course the practice is different than the theoryat their home, if you can afford it, though why not pay attentionfor groceries, or at least bring a small gift, especially if u r like a pack of tea, sugar or some fruits... A little extra food every once in a while will most probably not european, cause they could be extremely racistput a dent in your budget.
== Safety ==
Hitchhiking to Mauritania is surprisingly easy at the Mauritanian consulate in Rabat. Anyone going to Mauritania must stop there first to get the visa (no longer available at the Mauritanian border or in Rabat), and you will have many long hours of waiting for your visa in which you can talk to the various drivers going south. Also, just hitchhiking towards south conventionally will be quite easy as there is always overlanders and car salespeople going south.
[[The-nomaddicts]] entered Mauritania from [[Western Sahara]] in December 2019 and received a visa at the border. It cost 55 Euros and took about 3 hours but a visa on arrival is standard procedure now. A personal experience with border crossings(Dating back to 2005):: “''I was homosexually harassed by an older border policeman while coming from Morocco to [[Ceuta]]. I don´t forgive such, so I approached Moroccan consulates in both [[Malaga]] and [[London]]. In Malaga they obviously protect such criminals and London wasn´t very helpful either. I did send letters to the ministries of tourism and interior affairs, as well as to the border chief but nobody was interested. So, if you really have to come to this country, make sure you don´t cross the borders alone!''”
== Hitchhiking Events ==
From the [http://www.lcd.org.uk/events/hitch/ LCD]:: ''The 2007 Hitch has just wrapped up with a record-breaking 760 Hitchers completing the 1,600 mile journey to Morocco, and 26 the 800 mile journey to Prague. The Hitch is LCD’s largest fundraising event and hitching the 1600 or 800 miles is a true feat of achievement. All the Hitchers have now safely returned to the UK, but the money is still rolling in.''
== See Also ==
* [[Western Sahara]]
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
{{nomadwiki}}
{{hitchbase_country|133}}
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[[de:Marokko]]
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