FAQ about hitch-hiking in Marocco

Written by Gede Matyas (saman(a)sch.bme.hu)

On major roads it's easy, on other places the main problem is that there are very few vehicles on the road. Once I was waiting in the desert for 2 hours for the first car (of course it picked me up :)

Drivers sometimes ask for money. (Usually they tell it before you get in) you will be often invited by the local people (in case you don't reject their attempts to start a conversation with you). Sometimes they do it because they want you to visit their carpet/souvenir shops, but usually they do it just because they are Islamic people. If you accept these invitations you can see, and eat such things that the most of the tourist will never do. I was tasting all the raditional Moroccan foods, eating together with families, sleeping in several kinds of houses, and I made photos of a religious sheep-cutting.

About languages: Official language is Arabic, but most of the people can speak more or less French. In the cities it relatively easy to find someone who can speak English. At the major touristic attractions you can find people who can speak five or six languages. They will be smiling and inviting you for a tee or something. You can be sure that they just want to sell you something or guide you around - for money of course. The best thing you can do is to smile and reject these invitatoins.

It's useful to learn some words in Arabic and/or French. (numbers, greetings, etc.) some useful words:

As-salem alaykum (respond with 'Alaykum salam') - sometimes just Salem
Ma as-salama (good bye)
Shukran jazilan (thank you very much)
Jib jouj kisen a the (bring me two cup of tee)
Fin rhedi? (Where are you going?)
Shhell dirham? (How much dirhams?)
Ma ismok? (What's your name)
Ismi ... (my name is ...)
insh'allah (If God wants...)