Alexandre Polozoff - Phoney train conductors




Although this only seems to happen in Tangiers, it is something to watch out for.

Upon boarding the train there are a bunch of seemingly nice fellows helping out carrying bags and acting rather official. The problem is, they are dressed plainly and not in uniform. Moroccan train conductors wear a uniform with a cap. The catch line these people use is "You remember me from the train station? I remember you." I personally didn't recall seeing the man earilier but someone in our party claimed he did and that was the mistake of our life.

After helping us get a cabin on the train he kept insisting that we keep the curtain closed. That folks, is so the local police don't seem him basically hassling you for money. This man will not leave and he will keep going back and forth pestering you for more money or telling you that he has not received enough. Simply ignore the man, shut the door to your cabin and use a foot to keep the door closed and him out of the cabin. Keep the curtain to your train window OPEN at all times. If he is a real train conductor he won't care if the curtain on the window is open or closed. So should you! Keep the curtain open and these leeches will stay away.


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Copyright @ 1996 Alexandre Polozoff. All Rights Reserved. Last update , 1996