Gipatik: 17.02.2024
I have been thinking for a long time whether I should write such a post. The title is a bit strange, because there are so many different people traveling here in Morocco.
When we set off, there was only one other caravan at the harbor, which has hardly changed until now, we are the acute exotics here with Palumbi. In our current spot, we are even the aliens, because we don't have a surfboard with us, everyone else here has at least one board....
We have met people of all kinds on this journey, now I would like to take stock with a WINK.
On December 22, many French and Spanish people set off, it was the start of the Christmas holidays, so there were still many families on the move, who wanted to have a holiday in Morocco quickly, or Moroccan exiles who wanted to spend a few days in their homeland. In addition to them, there were also some French, Belgians, Dutch and Germans who were traveling without children.
The vanlifers and surfers: This is a group that is very nice within itself, traveling through the world with an open mind, their main focus is usually on wind and waves, they want a mild climate and are not afraid of wild camping, sometimes in very tight spaces. Some even have children with them, here as a teacher, I assume that these school-age offspring are certainly somehow well educated. These people are generally very relaxed, it shows in all situations, because they don't complain about the 'neighbor' whose van is too close, they don't even set up a satellite dish or listen to loud music. They are pleasant companions, you can find them almost everywhere here on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. How they work and finance themselves is very individual and sometimes very exciting, they are very international!
The 4x4 off-roaders were the group that we encountered more often until Tafraoute. They drive 4x4 motorhomes, trucks or jeeps, can drive on off-road tracks, and find the life with a camper only exciting when the sand ladders could come into play. They come to a campsite when their supplies are empty, the water in the car needs to be refilled, and the laundry needs to be washed. They are also very nice, they are also happy to help with duct tape and other things that can be useful in the desert. Most of them are traveling as a couple, but there are also exceptions, who have children with them in their expedition truck. Again, I assume that the children are somehow being educated! ;-))
The sun seekers are a category of their own, they are a colorful group with vans, motorhomes or jeeps, who want to escape the winter in Europe. Their other hobbies are mostly doable with a bike or scooter, some are very sporty, others prefer to explore culture rather than ride into the countryside with an e-bike. Some wanted to go to the Canary Islands, others initially had only one destination, but now they are taking a small tour like we are.
The winterers are a distinct group, but here I should explain a little more, because they are ladies and gentlemen of retirement age who want to have plenty of sun. We have experienced some of these species ;-)) already at the wintering place in Spain, there are also quite a few of them here in Morocco. Most of them have been drawn to the Atlantic coast in Agadir, some have even proudly told us that. These ladies and gentlemen have the luxury of being mobile, with cold temperatures at home and life in Morocco being very affordable compared to that. They drive with their sometimes very large motorhomes to campsites where there is a full range of services, and they stay there until it gets too hot for them in Morocco. Here, a satellite dish and TV are standard, sometimes half of the campsite is used for radio and the like. Some already wear clothes at temperatures around 20 degrees, where I sometimes wished they would rethink their wardrobe a little bit, since we are in a Muslim country, but that should not be my problem. Most of these winterers are from France, they appreciate that they do not have any real language problems here.
Overall, the travelers here are mixed, as a rule, they are open-minded, very nice, and like to chat, they give tips and tricks, they also help out when there is a missing screw on Palumbi.