Morocco > Going home

Despite the early hour, breakfast is already waiting for us downstairs with fresh orange juice. Our drivers come to pick us up again and take us to the airport in about half an hour. At six o’clock the flight to Casablanca departs. First we check in the luggage, then head to customs. There it turns out we don’t have a visa slip, so back we go to the hall where the slips are kept. Afterwards I join the line for the hand luggage check. This takes quite a while until a second belt is opened. With a bit of luck, I end up practically at the front and get through the check quickly (just had to show the roll of candy and the remaining 3 dirhams). I’m the first of the group to walk to the plane and find my seat. It feels a bit strange that the other travel companions only arrive more than ten minutes later, just before departure. Their security check had taken longer. Right behind me, the second line for this flight suddenly closed again.

Morocco - Lunch on the beach at Legzira

Hannah also wasn’t allowed to take along her found horseshoe and stones. A little after six, the plane takes off towards Casablanca. On the way we are served coffee and a chocolate roll. The airport in Casablanca is just as chaotic as it was on arrival. Again, the line for hand luggage is long and moves slowly. Fortunately, the flight to Amsterdam is given priority; otherwise not everyone would have made it in time. With a slight delay we leave Morocco. At half past twelve the wheels touch down on the Polderbaan runway. Then there is still quite a journey to the terminal itself—it takes no less than 28 minutes before the plane docks at the gate. Immediately upon leaving the plane we face yet another baggage check, but this time the Dutch one. Here some travelers are frisked again. It is ‘funny’ to see that someone is found carrying a pocketknife. The knife is confiscated, even though the trip is already over. Rules? After passport control we say our goodbyes at the baggage claim. At a quarter to two I’m standing outside in a light drizzle, waiting to be picked up. It’s quite an adjustment to the Dutch weather.