Morocco: N'a pas d'argent pour l'hôtel?

After some days in Rabat to take care of the visa to Mauritania, to rest and to shower frequently, we finally left on the 16 of August.  Over the following days in Casablanca, Marrakesh and Agadir we always slept in gas stations...

Camping close to Marrakesh (we slept inside the tent...)

The night in Tan-Tan was slightly more interesting... We arrived already late at night, taking advantage of the lower temperatures to drive (meaning less than 35ºC!) and we were received by the guardian camels of the city.

(photo from another site...)

What followed was a long avenue without a place in which we could really setup our tent, so we headed into the city. It was already late night, some people were outside and the city sounded fishy. We tried two hotels, but one didn't accept us and we didn't accept the other one. So it was time  to go to the police (gendarmerie) station!

We parked Tear Drop and the officer showed up immediately: 

P: Bon soir! Qu'est-ce que vous voulez?

Clark: Bonjour! Can we slept in the police station?

P: ?

Clark: Pour resté ici. Nous can? (mixing languages while pointing at the police station and bending my head as a sign of going to sleep)

P: No! Pas de posible...

Clark: And outside? (and pointing to the ground outside of the station) Nous avez an tent!

P: Oui... (mumbling and clearly surprised....!)

Without losing any time, we parked Tear Drop at the new place and we started to setup our camping. However, a car arrived. It was another policeman, this time speaking some better english:

P2: You cannot be here. This is the police parking lot.

Clark: Bonjour! We spoke with your colleague and he allowed us.

Confused, the second policeman called the other guy, spoke something in Arabic and got back to us:

P2: I am sorry, but you cannot be here. Pas de safe. Je ensure security inside but not here.

Clark: Ok. Where can we setup our tent?

Feeling confused with the situation, the conversation followed a mixed approach...

P2: Hotel?

Clark: Ce trés expensive

P2: No... Ce pas cher...

Clark: Nous sons etudiants and it's a long trip...

P2: Resté ici is not safe for you! You should go to a hotel...

Clark: Oui. Je compris, mas pas de argent

P2: N'a pas d'argent pour l'hôtel? I will give you the money!

That totally disarmed us! It was one of those moments that just leave you speechless... A policeman offering the money to pay for a hotel to two total strangers! Firmly, we refused. 

However, it will be remembered as a remarkable example of the Moroccan hospitality.