Touring Morocco

[Birdy]

I was touring around the area during Nov/Dec, and it was great weather for an Englishman, hot enough during the day to be comfortable in the desert. Pretty baltic at night though, especially with nothing but a berber blanket and all my kit to sleep in. Brrrr. Made the sunrises even more beautiful though. The experience of watching the sun creeping across the dunes and then feeling its fingers slowly thaw my chattering bones is not one I will forget in a hurry.

Sunrise and sunset in the desert are incredible IMO.

As for the Arabic/French/Berber issue, I would advise French as being easier. My Arabic is much better than my French, but the crazy Arabic verb conjugation and accent in Morrocco makes it really impenetrable. The French on the other hand I found easier than actual 'French' French.

It's a long way from Modern Standard Arabic, especially when they start throwing French verbs into Arabic sentences. One of my favourites that stumped me for a couple of seconds was 'Couche al Shamps,' for sunset - what an ace merging of languages.

I found the Berber arabic easier, as in my experience they spoke a much more Qu'ranic and classic Arabic than any of the Arabs int the cities.

My two penceworth.

Birdy

[Orson]

I've traveled a fair bit around Europe but never any place that required special paperwork.

Can anyone tell me what sort of paperwork will be required for me to ride from Spain to Morocco?

Also where to get this paperwork.

Thanks in advance

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Last year July I visited Morocco for the first time and found entry to be fast and simple, no special paperwork or planning needed. You probably have a valid passport from one of the European countries which is all you need plus a valid green card for the vehicle insurance. Presto. Done.Show these at the border as you enter Morocco and you will be set . If you take the ferry from mainland - Spain to Ceuta or the other enclave to the east you will still be in Spain, though on African soil, and the actual border crossing formalities are only found when you leave Spanish property.
In July-August it was nice warm weather, high 20s to low 30s along the coast and warmer inland 41C at Marrakesh -- lovely motorcycling weather.Looking at my Michelin road map of Marocco at first I could not figure out what the little numbers on many of the mountain roads meant . Then I discovered in the legend that it referred to the months of the year in which it was probable that these roads might be closed due to snow pack. Brrrrr. I'll take summer.