TinaGlenn
Free Member
Hi folks,
With some of you off to Morocco with Ray and Desert Detours this September, I was asked by some friends on here to let you know a few of the things we learnt while doing this trip in April.
We had the most fantastic time, and as long as you are open minded about the types of places you are going to be staying in, and the fact that things may change from time to time from the planned itinery, then there is nothing stopping you from doing the same.
The 1st thing we learnt is that there are 3 grades of Diesel over there (all much cheaper than at home) never go for the cheapest, go for the top quality to avoid leaving your own smoke screen behind you. Diesel 350 was the most commonly found but if you could get Optimum that is the best grade.
Second, if you like sugar free or diet drinks, take plenty with you, as the only sugar free drinks we could find was water.
Don't expect supermarkets like you are used to at home and on the continent, we only found 2 like that, one at the start of the trip and one at Marakesh near the end.
We brought fresh fruit and veg at local markets, also fresh meat, but obviously not pork. If you can't live without your bacon butties then take loads with you.
Milk is the long life UHT type in cartons, easy to get almost anywhere as long as you like the full fat type, rarely could find semi skimmed.
Get your bread fresh every day, it is the large round flat bread that you will get everywhere, also french stick type loaves.
Make sure you let Ray know if you are on any medication or have any conditions he should be aware of, i.e. diabetes, epilepsy etc. It's better that he has advance notice than to find out if you get ill on the trip.
When we went into the bank to change our money to Dirhams we would have got a better exchange rate with Stirling rather than the Euros we had with us.
Also, even if changing Cash you will need to have your passport with you.
Although there are some banks along the route, always make sure you have plenty of cash with you, as ATM's are few and far between, and even when you find one it might not be working. Powercuts in towns happen at the most annoying of times. i.e when your wallet is empty!
A hose is a very very usefull piece of equipment to take, and if you have hose connectors even better, as sometimes you cannot park very close to the water supply, and by joining yours with someone elses it makes it a whole lot easier.
Take every opportunity you can to fill up or empty your tanks, as again you may not always in the right place if you find your tanks are full.
Ray makes no secret of the fact that things are likely to change, campsites are not the grassy, well ordered places you might be used to. They are dusty, and can be crowded, showers are primitive in most places and you may have to pay for warm water, EHU's may or may not work, and polarity seems to do it's own thing.
Ray is always about if you have questions or problems, always ask or let him know, he isn't good at mind reading
The kids beg for "Stylos" (biros, pens and pencils) bonbons and anything else they can think of.
If you know anyone with children who is about to get rid of any outgrown clothes and or shoes take them with you, Ray can pass them on to people who will be very gratefull for them. Likewise there is a small village school that Ray supports, so donations of pens, paper, excercise books, chalk etc are also very welcome.
We found the people to be very friendly, lots of waving to us as we drove through a country of very varied landscapes. Although me as a woman driving the van did get some odd looks as we drove through the more remote areas.
Would we go back???
In a heartbeat :thumb: All we have to do now is get saving again
Tina
With some of you off to Morocco with Ray and Desert Detours this September, I was asked by some friends on here to let you know a few of the things we learnt while doing this trip in April.
We had the most fantastic time, and as long as you are open minded about the types of places you are going to be staying in, and the fact that things may change from time to time from the planned itinery, then there is nothing stopping you from doing the same.
The 1st thing we learnt is that there are 3 grades of Diesel over there (all much cheaper than at home) never go for the cheapest, go for the top quality to avoid leaving your own smoke screen behind you. Diesel 350 was the most commonly found but if you could get Optimum that is the best grade.
Second, if you like sugar free or diet drinks, take plenty with you, as the only sugar free drinks we could find was water.
Don't expect supermarkets like you are used to at home and on the continent, we only found 2 like that, one at the start of the trip and one at Marakesh near the end.
We brought fresh fruit and veg at local markets, also fresh meat, but obviously not pork. If you can't live without your bacon butties then take loads with you.
Milk is the long life UHT type in cartons, easy to get almost anywhere as long as you like the full fat type, rarely could find semi skimmed.
Get your bread fresh every day, it is the large round flat bread that you will get everywhere, also french stick type loaves.
Make sure you let Ray know if you are on any medication or have any conditions he should be aware of, i.e. diabetes, epilepsy etc. It's better that he has advance notice than to find out if you get ill on the trip.
When we went into the bank to change our money to Dirhams we would have got a better exchange rate with Stirling rather than the Euros we had with us.
Also, even if changing Cash you will need to have your passport with you.
Although there are some banks along the route, always make sure you have plenty of cash with you, as ATM's are few and far between, and even when you find one it might not be working. Powercuts in towns happen at the most annoying of times. i.e when your wallet is empty!
A hose is a very very usefull piece of equipment to take, and if you have hose connectors even better, as sometimes you cannot park very close to the water supply, and by joining yours with someone elses it makes it a whole lot easier.
Take every opportunity you can to fill up or empty your tanks, as again you may not always in the right place if you find your tanks are full.
Ray makes no secret of the fact that things are likely to change, campsites are not the grassy, well ordered places you might be used to. They are dusty, and can be crowded, showers are primitive in most places and you may have to pay for warm water, EHU's may or may not work, and polarity seems to do it's own thing.
Ray is always about if you have questions or problems, always ask or let him know, he isn't good at mind reading
The kids beg for "Stylos" (biros, pens and pencils) bonbons and anything else they can think of.
If you know anyone with children who is about to get rid of any outgrown clothes and or shoes take them with you, Ray can pass them on to people who will be very gratefull for them. Likewise there is a small village school that Ray supports, so donations of pens, paper, excercise books, chalk etc are also very welcome.
We found the people to be very friendly, lots of waving to us as we drove through a country of very varied landscapes. Although me as a woman driving the van did get some odd looks as we drove through the more remote areas.
Would we go back???
In a heartbeat :thumb: All we have to do now is get saving again
Tina
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