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.

Morocco 2023 : Part 8 : Nkob and Merzouga

 Monday 27th February 2023

Ouarzazate to Nkob.

Today we didn't have too far to go so we chose a lazy start and a slow drive on the N9 over the Tizi n Tinififft pass to Agdz.

We stopped for a coffee and to buy dates from the market. From here the road follows the Draa River Valley, the centre of date production in Morocco.

We enjoyed an afternoon soaking up the sun at Kasbah Baha Baha, our overnight stop. 

Most places have very similar menus. Soup or salad to start, a tagine of your choice for main and pancakes, fruit or yogurt for dessert. Usually no wine.

Tuesday 28 February 2023

Camping in the Desert,  nr Merzouga

We drove east to Mezouga and the landscape got progressively more barren along the way. 

We meet up with a guide from Sahara Majestic. We took the hour long camel ride through the dunes to our camp.

Trust me, an hour is LONG enough! 

The tented camp is very cool even if it's pretty touristy. 

We dressed in the Berber outfits and

they drove us out to the dunes for sunset and all the obligatory photos. Actually the coats are very warm but luckily we had mild weather and no wind. 

They had wine on the menu and a feast of a dinner.