French Retirees Stranded in Morocco as COVID-19 Closes Borders

This Wettolsheim couple had gone to Morocco at the beginning of January as usual. It has settled with its motorhome in Tafraout, in Morocco, to spend its holidays there, far from the Alsatian winter, reports L’Alsace.

"In Tafraout, a small village in the Middle Atlas, we lack nothing. Fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and other foodstuffs in abundance seven days a week. Here, no covid-19! But space to walk around. We have been in a palm grove since January 24, where there have only been two times with a few drops of rain. Needless to say, it’s very hot, but everyone is coping with it," says the Wettolsheimer.

"The bread is delivered to us every morning, as well as the water if we want it. To do the other shopping, we go to the city. Everyone is very friendly. Wearing a mask is mandatory. Entries into Tafraout are prohibited for all new visitors, those who would like to settle there. The motorhomes are spaced 30 to 60 meters apart, and not packed like sardines in a campsite," he adds. He says that there are currently about sixty caravans remaining on the site, all confined. They are waiting for a probable return to France.

"[...] We would like to go home; but for that, we have to wait for the borders between Morocco and Spain to open to take the boat (the repatriation one being expensive), he explains. And for that, we are inquiring with the mayor of the village, who is very friendly, like all the Berbers we meet here and who render us many services without counterpart. I hope that after reading this little letter, the families and friends we left in France will be less worried."