Visa Extensions
Should the standard 90-day stay be insufficient, you can apply for an extension or even for residence a Carte de Sejour , but the latter is difficult to get and usually requires proof of employment. Go to the nearest police headquarters Pr fecture de Police with your passport, three photos and a letter from your embassy requesting a visa extension on your behalf. Applications can take hours or days, and different police Embassies for the following countries are in Rabat - see p462 for address...
Drugs
Morocco's era as a hippie paradise, riding the Marrakesh Express and all that, was long ago consigned to history. Plenty of fine dope known as kif may be grown in the Rif Mountains, but drug busts are common and Morocco is not a place where you'd want to investigate local prison conditions from the inside. The vast majority of all Moroccan stories of extortion and rip-offs are drug related. A common ploy is to get you stoned, force you to buy a piece of hash the size of a house brick and then...
Travellers Diarrhoea
The strains of travel - unfamiliar food, heat, long days and erratic sleeping patterns -can all make your body more susceptible to upset stomachs. To prevent diarrhoea, eat only fresh fruits or vegetables if they are cooked or if you have washed or peeled them yourself. Water is generally safe to drink in cities but elsewhere you should only drink treated water see p503 . Buffet meals, which may have been kept sitting warm for some time, can be risky - food should be piping hot. Meals freshly...
Sidi Kaouki
The constant blustery winds, wild beach and decent accommodation at Sidi Kaouki are fast turning it into one of Morocco's top windsurfing and surfing spots. It's not for the faint-hearted and the waters here can be dangerous for inexperienced surfers. A clutch of guest houses and small stalls serving tajine, seafood and snacks stretch along the beachfront. You can rent a horse half-hour hour costs Dh70 120 and ride along the long stretch of beach, or try your hand at mono-gliding at VHM Village...
AROUND RABAT SAL Complexe des Potiers
The village of Oulja, 3km southeast of Sal , is home to the Complexe des Potiers Pottery Cooperative S sunrise-sunset which produces a huge range of ceramics. The potters work at the back of the complex, bringing in clay from a rich seam in the surrounding hills you'll see it on the left as you drive in , throwing and turning it on kick wheels, then glazing and firing the finished pieces in enormous kilns. A firing takes 15 hours and reaches 900 C. Fine domestic pottery is fired in gas kilns...
Business Hours
Although a Muslim country, for business purposes Morocco follows the Monday to Friday working week. Friday is the main prayer day, however, so many businesses take an extended lunch break on Friday afternoon. During Ramadan the rhythm of the country changes and office hours shift to around 8am to 3pm or 4pm. For details of opening hours for shops, banks, post offices and restaurants, see the Quick Reference inside the front cover. Banking hours can vary a little, with some banks closing at...
Moroccan Arabic
Written and spoken Arabic are often two very different languages. Moroccan Arabic Darija is a dialect of the standard language, but is so different in many respects as to be virtually like another tongue. It is also the dialect that differs most from those of other Arabic-speaking peoples. More specialised or educated language tends to be much the same across the Arab world, although pronunciation varies considerably. An Arab from Jordan or Iraq will have little trouble discussing politics or...
Hepatitis B
Infected blood, contaminated needles and sexual intercourse can all transmit hepatitis B. It can cause jaundice, and affects the liver, occasionally causing liver failure. All travellers should make this a routine vaccination Morocco gives hepatitis B vaccination as part of routine childhood vaccination . The vaccine is given singly, or at the same time as the hepatitis A vaccine Hepatyrix . A course will give protection for at least five years. It can be given over four weeks, or six months.
Hassan Dalil
How long have you lived in Moulay Bousselham I was born on the lagoon, and I started taking tourists in my little rowing boat when I was 12, so I could make money to go to school. People then mostly wanted to see flamingos. In 1987 I finished studying physics and chemistry at the University of Kenitra and decided to become a bird guide. In the summer I take people walking around the lagoon, in winter I take them by boat. How did you get into birds People came here to watch birds so I learned a...
Budget
Casablanca's budget hotels are pretty basic. The medina hotels are invariably grotty and overpriced and don't offer good value compared with their ville-nouvelle counterparts. Youth Hostel Map p110 X 022 220551 frmaj1 menara.com 6 Place Ahmed el-Bidaoui dm d tr incl breakfast Dh45 120 180 S8-10am amp noon-11pm O Clustered around a bright central lounge area, the rooms are basic but well kept and quiet, with high ceilings and a lingering smell of damp in winter. There are good hot showers in the...
Spain
Ferries from Spain to Morocco are plentiful. The Spanish government-run company Trasmediterr nea runs regular sailings, as do Buquebus, Comanav, Comarit, Euro-Ferrys and FRS. Hydrofoils and catamarans also referred to as fast ferries are used extensively, but are more expensive and can be disrupted by rough seas. The most popular and frequent service is the Algeciras to Tangier route. It's traditionally been known for its hassle and hustlers, but these have largely been cleared out of the port,...
Emma Wilson
How long have you lived in Essaouira I have been coming to Essaouira for 10 years, and I have lived here for about five years. I love it but I go home to London for sanity's sake every three months, usually for three weeks. Why did you choose Essaouira I guess Essaouira chose me and I suited it. I bought a house here at first, because I fell in love with this white, organic architecture and the town just reeled me in. This has partly to do both with the fact that the business is just more...
Sleeping Eating Vol
All hotels listed have their own restaurants. There are some slightly cheaper places lining the road down to the beach. For bargain meals there is a selection of cheap eateries on the main road in the village. Hotel Thalassa X 023 366050 r Dh100-150, Jun-Sep Dh150-200 The only hotel on the main drag, this slightly dated place is better than you might expect, with bright, airy whitewashed rooms with old-fashioned bathrooms. It's good value but far from the beach. H tel-Restaurant L'Initiale X...
Mill Htel Guynemer Map p X wwwguynemerhotelcom Rue Mohammed Belloul sdtr incl
The friendly and super-efficient family-run Guynemer, in a gorgeous art-deco building, just goes from strength to strength. The 29 well-appointed and regularly updated rooms are tastefully decked out in cheerful colours. Fresh flowers, plasma TVs, wi-fi access and firm, comfortable beds make them a steal at these rates and the service is way above average staff will happily run out to get anything you need. There's an airport pick-up service Dh200 and city tours. The small restaurant serves a...