Morocco 2023 : Part 9 : Fez

Wednesday 1 March

Mezouga to Fez

After breakfast we did a cool dune ride to get back to our car. 

It was a long day of driving from Mezouga to Fez. We passed through desert to gorge, over mountains and through snow and forest and farmland and rolled into Fez at 6pm.

We were met by Khalid at the parking lot and followed him on foot through the winding streets of the ancient medina to our riad. I had booked Le Petit Bijou on Airbnb and we enjoyed a truly authentic experience in this 600+ year old house.

Fousia and Khalid cooked and served dinner for us in the house.  He sent a friend out to the supermarket to buy us wine and beer which was delivered to us in time for dinner.

Thursday 2nd March

Fez Medina

After a great breakfast off we went to get lost in the medina. Neil and I would rather be lost all day than endure a guide. We did okay.

We saw the Kairaouine, the oldest university in Africa; now a mosque so non Muslims are not allowed to enter.  You can enter the beautiful 14th century Al Attarine Madrasa though.

Ancient Place Seffarine still has metalworkers and tinkers noisily hammering out bowls and trays from sheets of brass and copper.

We visited the very stinky leather tanneries where men work waist deep in toxic leather processing baths for a couple of dollars a day.

And we wandered the souks and narrow lanes the whole day stopping for a coffee break every now and then to watch the passing parade.

We found a good bar with a fireplace in Palais Atani, a 5 minute walk from our riad.

It was so cozy we took Stepen and Vivienne back for dinner.