My plan was simple... to bring a UK registered caravan to Morocco for no longer than six months, a task I was assured by my local Port Customs Office would be okay. It wasn't!
The successful introduction of the van was to be followed by a tour of the southern end of the country during the coming winter months. The tour in question was to be of an educational nature combined with writing yet another Sci-Fi novel. Yes... I aspire to being a writer. The caravan in its entirety would be removed from these shores and stored in Spain until the following winter following the end of the six-monthly stay.
As a long-term member of a popular& important UK University Geological Society, and the only person/member residing in Morocco as well as the entire African continent, I was going to write an important article concerning interesting geological sites in southern Morocco, placing an emphasis on palaeontological artefacts and their relevant fossiliferous beds & history. The informative story was intended for the University Society's Journal as both an introduction and invitation to what can be found and enjoyed in Morocco, geologically speaking.
However, having arrived at Tangier Port with a foreign caravan in tow, hitched to the rear of my Maroc registered car, I was prevented from going any further into the country. I was informed I had broken the law on two separate accounts, before being ordered to take my caravan out of the country. I also had to pay an exceptionally expensive exportation tax too. That confused me enormously as the caravan had never been imported or even past the customs shed. Actually, it has confused all who have so far learned of what happened to me. And I'm talking about quite a lot of people, including the agency that insured me to tow a caravan.
I had no choice but to pay as the alternative was arrest and being forced to part with the cash. The British Embassy in Rabat was informed of my predicament by fax, but they never even bothered to get in touch; even if only to say there was nothing they could do. Talk about a Pontius Pilate scenario! Or might it be seen as a stupid ostrich with its head buried deeply in the proverbial sand of deafness & blindness. Either way they failed me and my wife very badly - both very much British (Scottish) and extremely disappointed. I hope Scotland gets its independance after this! This has left me wondering what level of help any might receive from the UK FCO? Apart from handing out Visas, receiving Passports for renewal and giving Garden-parties for social-climbers, I'm not sure what else they're here for? What I do know is they didn't even attempt to help us in the slightest.
So there you have it. I could have written a glorifying report that might have boosted Moroccan tourism as well as giving businesses and locals work as well as extra income as we travelled around the country, not forgetting the local family who would earn money while looking after the caravan while we were home at any time during the six-month period. And any visiting fellow graduates/students/etc would have been an additional bonus to the Maroc ecconomy too. I used to really love this country.
The entire event has been a strain as what took place at the Port in question was not as cut-and-dried as I have made it seem. It took several days to get through and even longer to get over. It has made my wife and I reconsider our long term plans for staying in Morocco. We are aware of at least another who is well into the process of selling-up to live in Spain and others who would be prepared to move to the Canaries. I'm sure there are plenty of others too.
I will still write that paper but it will have an entirely different story to tell. And as for the novel, I think I have enough data to write a very interesting story based on true events. We shall see.
I wonder if anyone else has suffered from similar experiences?
Please give us all the details if so. It'll hopefully help others.
Morocco
Living in Morocco Guide
Morocco Forum
Contribute
Best Places to Live in Morocco
Healthcare in Morocco
Moving to Morocco Guide
Pros & Cons of Living in Morocco
10 Tips for Living in Morocco