Stranded In Tangier
One week ago we were due to depart Morocco, but were mysteriously halted at the border having already cleared customs. The past seven days have been spent trying to navigate through a lack of information and conflicting instruction. No one has told us why we can’t leave, or what might actually be required to do so. Other boats have previously left Tangier for Spain without issue. According to the European Council and other sources, we are exempt from travel restrictions and eligible to freely enter Europe as EU citizens.
Yesterday we were informed that the Wilaya (the regional government authority) in Tangier has total control over the city’s movements, including the port. This is at odds with what we were told 4 days ago (that we are caught up in a national border issue). A lot of the locals we’ve spoken to seem surprised by our situation. Even the police are empathetic and have common confusion with the system. But we have nothing in writing and everyone we speak to tells us something different. It all seems rather vague, which is both stressful and frustrating.
Obviously there is a pandemic occurring, and we’re very aware of that. We are also sifting our way through a culture that we don’t fully understand, in a language that we don’t know. We feel like an edge case that has fallen through the cracks, and are now stuck in limbo. There is an air of hurry up and wait, but having already mentally left, it makes it very hard to stay.
We are still docked at the welcome pontoon, always in view of the border police. Our new morning ritual involves taking our passports into the police office at the marina and asking for a stamp out. But really, they have no sway. Every day we call the British embassy; exchanging information and hoping for good news. We are in steady contact with the marina staff; our ears are constantly to the ground. We pester friends for any news. We ask taxi drivers if they know anything. We share information with fellow boaties and within cruising circles. We make a nuisance of ourselves. But not too much. It’s a fine balance between throwing our weight around to stay at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and not putting too many noses out of joint.
The current State of Emergency in Morocco is due to end in two days on 10 July. We hope this will bring us some good news.
