These days we have an extra extension to our five senses of vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell – and that is internet connection. When far from home we would be totally cut off from the outside world without the internet. Strange how we have acquired this dependence in just a few short years.
Starlink had served us well in Europe and we had understood that the service was also available in Morocco. Not quite so – it turned out that our £80 monthly subscription only covered Europe. For connection in Morocco, the monthly subscription would increase to £200.
We felt it an absolute necessity to be able to keep in contact with family and friends, to keep abreast of current affairs and we relied on the internet for local travel information and to maintain contact with fellow travellers. We felt we had no option but to pay up. So we signed up feeling grateful we had the benefit of this “sixth” sense.
We were travelling south after staying a few days in Chefchaouen, the blue city in the Rif Mountains. Driving on Moroccan roads took skill and courage. Many vehicles were unroadworthy by our standards. Overtaking was a free-for-all and was even attempted on blind bends. Occasionally an overtaking vehicle was simultaneously being passed from behind by a faster car, causing a three abreast situation. Added to that, oncoming traffic would be approaching at speed, doing similar suicidal manoeuvres. Mostly everyone managed to get out of each other’s way – but not always and we saw evidence of several collisions.
Armed traffic police were present at many road junctions. Stingers were at the kerbside, ready to deploy. Normally tourists were waved through with a smile.
Unfortunately they caught Tony failing to halt at a red stop sign. We were pulled over and threatened with a 400 dirham (€40) fine. Eventually we were let off with a very stern warning.
