COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[Chris Scott]

There is a video from the Brit ambassador on Twitter assuring those wanting to fly out that he has brought in extra flights.
https://twitter.com/UKinMorocco/stat...69510158766085

But he then advises contact your airline/tour op etc to get on those flights or mill around the airport in on the off chance. The responses to his post show how that's gone down. BA are uncontactable and cancelled flights not rebookable online.

Maybe that's all embassies can ever do.
I had an idea repatriation was a bit more organised: 'be here at x time and a plane will be waiting.'

Hopefully it will ease up in a couple of days.

[levelo]

Friend of mine is currently stuck around Sevilla.
He was in Morocco for a while but he had left his van in southern Spain.
He somehow made it back to Spain, picked up his car and started driving north. He was stopped by Police twice today, they wouldn't let him drive anywhere.
The poor guy is stuck, trying to get home ( northern Italy... ).

[TheWarden]

Had the same experience with the FCO consulate email thing. It all geared at peoe who flew in. Apparently the 3 days of evac flights is prioritising people with return tickets.

2 of us in 4x4s in FZ tonight, companion needs to get back to family, I'm more flexible but wondering what next

[TheWarden]

So who is stuck here at the moment? Might be worth staying in contact, pooling resources or just getting out into the desert to wait it out

[markharf]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

BA are uncontactable and cancelled flights not rebookable online.

I'll offer this just in case it's useful to someone. I've been trying to cancel my Air Canada flights, feeling like an episode from a Franz Kafka novel--website links that didn't work, phone numbers that didn't work, email addresses that don't work, message boards full of people just like me, etc. I used some contact info from Chris Elliot's website (https://www.elliott.org), but that didn't work either.

I finally got a response from a direct message I sent on an Air Canada Facebook page. I don't yet know whether it's all taken care of as the rep promised, but it seemed like a good sign. So that avenue may be worth a try.

Christopher Elliot has contact info for, among others, executives at British Airways, Air France, and more. Follow his very specific instructions for best chance of success (and so as not to poison these communication channels).

Good luck all!

Mark

[Chris Scott]

... prioritising people with return tickets.

I see. Fair enough and good to know. Will leave RAK airport for a few days then.

They emailed a reply to my explaining airlines uncontactable with the 9-points questionnaire I filled out yesterday or before.
'I filled it out already' I say
that generates another 9-points questionnaire
'I filled it out already' I say
that generates another...

They did try to call me today. Or someone did. On the moto.
Like BA, you certainly can't call them:
'Sorry the embassy is closed' at 2pm on a Tuesday.


Another problem, in the provinces at least, is that hotels are closing for lack of business. Yesterday in Tantan the place closed behind me, same will happen here in Tiznit.
While in Marrakech or Agadir - where one is told to head for to get flights home – my usual place in Marrakech is virtually empty and about to close too. I think everyone's camped at the airport.

[uknomad]

Stop gloating. I wish I was, the hysteria here is laughable.



Can't get toliet paper here, people were told to sneeze into their elbows, just shows, people don't know their a*se from their elbow.

[TheWarden]

Not meant that way, just thinking ahead that a few like minded people might be able to ride the situation here together

[TheWarden]

Messaged both Balearia and Trasmedditeranae today and the confirmed that ferries are running back to Spain from Cueta but didn't know if we could get into Ceuta. I guess that's outside their remit

FCO travel advice for driving back through Spain is typically unhelpful and on the Spain page tells you what to do about driving through France

In Taliouine tonight and the locals are much more aware of the issue. Bread shop had barricades up to stop you leaning on the counter and the guy was washing coins. Few people sporting pointless face masks

[uknomad]

I didn't think you did mean that way. I'd still rather be in Maroc.

[Chris Scott]

It seems that flights from RAK and AGR end tomorrow (19th) so may be too late to leave vehicle after that until who knows.
But Spain?France roads restricted? I guess you'll find out.

Yes, overnight the new fashion is wearing masks -often on forehead - or pulling up cheches. Some cafes open discreetly.
Hawkers on the Tiznit bus tried to shove some latex gloves in my face.
Now in Marrakech - deserted for a Wednesday. This hotel about to close.

Hope anyone who wants to drive/ride back out can manage.
May be a long wait with increasing local restrictions and shortages if you choose to sit it out.

[TheWarden]

Just heard from a guy who tried Ceuta, not possible, yet people were passing him at the border saying they had a ferry tonight.

Guess we could try and find dig tree Chris?

[Chris Scott]

Thanks but I don't want to go back to WS any time soon - except to shoot through to RIM.
I made it back to Dakhla Junctiion with 600cc in the tank and normal range down by 40%. And this was at 100kph.
The wind just does not stop day or night - as we know.
OK in a car or camper and it's that time of year.

So Ceuta border in to Spain is open?
It's one step closer - but closer to what?

[TheWarden]

Yes seems open but nowhere to go from there it seems.

Might be forced to stick it out in the south until the Embassy get around to us independent motorised travellers

Had a look for Dig Tree in September, 50 degrees and a sand storm, no fun even in a 4x4

[Chris Scott]

Just saw this