Arizona Fil-Am family barely avoids being stranded in Morocco

Gabrielle, David and Gina Putong-Almeter had a hearty meal March 15 Sunday at Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, unaware that the Moroccan government was going to announce a ban of all flights into and out of the country in the evening. CONTRIBUTED

It was supposed to be just one of the annual family trips that the Almeters of Phoenix, Arizona would enjoy and remember for a long time. But they got more than they bargained for when COVID-19 flared rapidly and nearly stranded them in Morocco.

Mommy Gina Putong-Almeter was her usual dependable self as she booked an eight-day Morocco tour with husband David and their only child, Gabrielle, as early as August. They eagerly looked forward to their annual bonding travel, excited to see new places and meet new friends along the way. They had their flights ready In November 2019, some four months early for their March 10, 2020 start.

As they waited, news of the still new, mysterious and deadly coronavirus began to hug the headlines, at first mainly centered in Wuhan City, China.

But as a former journalist who always had the nose for news, Gina was closely watching the latest on COVID-19 not just because their date with Morocco drew closer, but also because of worry for the Chongqing family of the Chinese foreign student who lives with them.

On the eve of their departure, Gina learned that Spain’s COVID-19 numbers were doubling overnight. So, she spent hours on the phone to cancel their Madrid two-night stopover on their way to Casablanca in Morocco and book accommodations for a London layover instead.

“Back then I thought that would be the most exhausting part of this vacation and that everything would go smoothly onward. London had few reported cases and Morocco had none at all. Little did I know,” Gina narrated.

Soon they were in London at the Waldorf Hilton, which pampered them during their one-night stopover. While they walked around London, they noticed there were Asians wearing masks.

On their flight to Casablanca in Morocco via Paris on March 12, the Almeters sat apart from each other as their booking was last-minute. The couple sat next to co-passengers who coughed incessantly, making them feel very uneasy.

“I could feel my whole body tightening from dread and fear even as I was wearing my face mask.  The poor guy stood up frequently, to go to the bathroom I assume. I just gave him an unopened water bottle to hopefully ease his dry cough,” Gina recalled.

The family felt tired upon reaching their Casablanca hotel March 13 Friday, slept soundly and spent the next day Saturday at the beach to refresh their lungs and enjoy a few good meals.

Then came the announcement from their travel agency on March14 canceling all tours around the world scheduled for the next few weeks.  They then decided it was time to try to fly back home, but flights for the next three days were fully booked and one airline had openings from Marrakech to other countries only on Wednesday, March 18 at the earliest.

“We still had our spirits up and looked forward to seeing a bit more of Morocco given the circumstances. Gabrielle took care of finding our accommodations in Marrakech and David went to the concierge to find out about travel arrangements,” Gina said.

On Sunday March 15, to keep their spirits high and still make the most of their trip, the Almeters went to the mythical Rick’s Café made famous by the movie “Casablanca.” They took a three-and-a-half hour ride to Marrakech and into the wondrous and busy Medina where Riad, a traditional Morrocan palatial home, was located.

All the while, the Almeters kept their Facebook friends posted on their journey. They got back concerned messages that Sunday night (Morocco time) that the Moroccan government just announced it was banning all flights in and out of the country.

Earlier on March 11, Wednesday, President Donald Trump also announced a suspension effective March 13, Friday on flights from Europe to the U.S. except those from the United Kingdom. That had given the Almeters a glimmer of hope for going back home.

Late Monday, March 16, Moroccan authorities announced that around a hundred “exceptional” flights for London were allowed.

“I had become so inundated with all the changing developments and the uncertainties that resulted that I figured I needed to try to get a good night’s sleep. The last thing I wanted to do was to get sick. After all, this global emergency started as a health crisis and I did not want to be a victim,” a weary Gina intimated.

Unknown to her parents, a worried Gabrielle emailed newspapers in Arizona about their situation and immediately the Arizona Republic got back to her for an interview.

The next day, the family was on Arizona’s local news as well as on USA Today, the paper’s parent company.

Arizona State Senator Kyrsten Synema had expressed concern and was moving to take action on behalf of stranded Americans like theirs in Morocco and elsewhere in Europe

So proud was the Almeter couple of their daughter, Gabrielle, for finding a way to transform her worries into something beneficial for other stranded travelers who reached out to her to ask for help via Instagram or text.

The Almeters (from left) David, Gabrielle and Gina, still decided to make the most of their trip despite the flight ban by visiting the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. CONTRIBUTED

Meanwhile, the Almeters could not seek help from the US embassy in Rabat and the Consulate General in Casablanca, which offered only an advisory on their websites for Americans to contact airline companies because “there was nothing they could do.”

The most that they could do then was sign up for the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program, which would keep them updated if efforts were being undertaken to repatriate stranded US citizens.

“While the prospect of being stranded in this beautiful country may have sounded alluring at first for the bohemian in me, the reality of not being able to get food and basic necessities for my family should groceries and shops also close down made me realize the best place to be at this time would be back home in Phoenix,” a homesick Gina realized.

They didn’t encounter any Filipinos along the way but were told that there were several Filipinos in Marrakech who might be staying home in fear of Asian bashing as a result of COVID-19.

March 18, Wednesday came and the Marrakech airport was teeming with expats from Europe and the US, many of whom were now wearing masks.

They met a young Bowdoin College junior who was catching the same flight to London and had to take a four-hour taxi ride from Casablanca to Marrakech in the hope of making it home to her worried parents in Maine.

They left London for Dallas, Texas where their flight to Phoenix was delayed three times, forcing them to spend the night at a Dallas airport hotel.

By Friday, March 20, the Almeters were finally back in their Phoenix home, safe and sound after a long journey that, as Gina puts it, “threw curve balls along the way.”

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The Almeters are now in the middle of their mandatory two-week self-quarantine. They spend it by learning a new language, clearing up wardrobe and pantry, whipping up home cooked meals, catching up on reading, learning to play a musical instrument, etc.

“’To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.’ I have no regrets looking back at our decisions along the way. My family and I got to know very special people who showed only generosity and kindness during these dire times. The locals were so hospitable and warmhearted that leaving was such a bittersweet experience,” Gina stresses looking back at their travail.

Gina added that as a planner, she has now learned to take things a step at a time; her family learned how tedious it can be to book and rebook trips. They appreciate those who gave useful suggestions and their love and concern.

“And to the people of Morocco I say, “Shukran!”  When all these craziness is over we will be back.” pledged Gina.