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Morocco

1,147 bytes added, 14:26, 10 February 2013
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In some most touristic areas (ie: on the route from Rissani to Merzouga) police might think your driver is an unauthorized guide illegally getting money from you, so be ready to explain them (in French!) you're just hitchhiking and your driver was just very kind in helping you. Having some picture of your hitchhiking experience will help convincing them, otherwise your driver might get a fine, and of course you'll offer to pay for it.
 
Though for finding lifts police can commonly be a good help, for wild camping or spontaneous hospitality most of times can be more annoying. It seems there is a law that forbid foreigners to sleep outside of hotels/guesthouses with any means, mat, tent or local kindness; though probably the reality is that "security forces" don't want u to be a problem for them and for "your safety" could cause u more problems than what u expect (see below -> personal experiences to have an idea)
== Sleeping ==
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 ==
[[User: Fedecicco| Fede]] was caught wild camping three times and detained by the police, once in Azilal,on the atlas mountains, asking for a spot near a mosque, the security didnt authorised him until arrive of cops (amn watani) who treated him politely and explained they must force him go to a hotel. Second time in Sa'idya (border with Algeria and "maximum suspect") while hitchhiking brought at police station with a ridiculous scam (policeman said "this friend of mine will bring u to a better spot") snf kept hours checking documents and questions; and last in Chefchaouen where nocturnal guardian directly called them (kept 5 hours, taken fingerprints and the day after threaten to be expelled from the "kingdom" if he didn't leave the city). Each time police clarified that it was illegal sleep in the streets or guest by moroccans for "security reasons", i.e. according to them and that law, any foreigner must go to a hotel or guesthouse every night. Of course the practice is different than the theory, though pay attention, especially if u r not european, they could be extremely racist.
== Safety ==
: ''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.''
== Personal Experiences ==
[[User: Fedecicco| Fede]] was caught wild camping three times and was detained by the police, once in Azilal on the atlas mountains (few time and kind cops), another in Sa'idya (border with Algeria and "maximum suspect", 3-4 hours interrogation and document check) and last in Chefchaouen (the worst ever, kept 5 hours and the day after threaten to be expulsed from the "kingdom" if he didn't leave the ciy). They forced him to go to a hotel.
== See Also ==
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