58 Mauritania - Marrakech

19. May 2007

In the morning I decided to walk to the airport. Nouadhibou is not a place where there is much to see. I did not bother doing any sightseeing, and just wanted to move on.

The hotel was an experience. Not bad – but very run down.

The emigration was located in a shed by the entrance to the runway. No fuss. I think they wanted a little tip – but the 5 euro in coins I offered was turned down?

Walked to the airport office to pay the landing fee. A question of a permit was raised. I do not have one, and Mike from White Rose Aviation, have told me, that Mauritania never reply on application for permits.

The airport boss was called, but after me explaining the situation to him, he dropped the request. Next time, I should bring the application for the permit to fly in Mauritania.

The clerk presenting me with the bill for he landing fee, also asked for a “tip”, so I decided to give him 10 Euro. Fuel was organized at a prize of 2.4 Euro per liter!

I  was happy to depart, and the flight over the Sahara was uneventful. I had  tailwind of up to 25 kts. most of the way. Before getting to the Atlas Mountains I had to climb to FL 160 that is the minimum route altitude.

It was a steep descend down to Marrakech for a visual landing on runway 10.