Fes - Morocco

Our roadtrip Safari, from Beja  to Fes. Morocco.  

  We set off on our way at 6.30am. A good time to start.   Traveling through the border of  Beja Portugal to Spain.  We stopped for lunch at a great restaurant my son often goes to when here at the farm. He meets up with old school friends there.. its an event they do every 3 years.   Amazing, how within a couple of hours, habits and customs change. Its always great to say hello to our hospitable neighbors and savor their lovely food.

After lunch , we were on our way.  Destination Gibraltar.  We arrived on the rock and in our Hotel at 7.30pm.. A lovely drive.. We watched a couple of films on the way, so that Max, wouldn't get too bored.

  Gibraltar.

                                          Gibraltar.   The Rock.. so very different now, than when I was there over 30 years ago. (photo from web)

                            on the ferry.. we dick roll a little.. but i took this through the ferry window.. of the straits.. with Morocco in the distance.

                            Tangiers.  (photo web)- We were last in Tangiers in 1994.. Sailed there on our yacht. "Scally".. from  Cascais Portugal to Tangiers.. Such a change also in Tangiers.. Ultra modern buildings, international brand shops.. I do like Tangiers.

Entrance hall of our Riad.. within the Medina walls of Fes.  Like a page out of  a fairy tale book. 

The collages are in no particular order.   Mixed with our gorgeous Hotel.. to the alleyways nearly 1000 of them . It would take years to get to know them all.

Moroccan architecture at its best.  The Kings Palace.. one of the entrances to the Medina.. the other to the Market place.  Our Riad.. Donkey's carrying stones for floor coverings..   Mosaic craftsmanship second to none.  Berber arches and design.  

 We walked the Medina, till our legs were dropping.   Coming upon little workshops , where craftsmen are sitting daily, producing the most ornate woodwork pieces.. of furniture ... We drank  Na Na tea that quenched our thirst.  As the late afternoon drew close, we returned to the hotel.  The next day to set out on a private guided tour.. just myself ,my DIL and my grandaughter..  We visited the most amazing pottery factory.
If any of you know Portugal, you will know, that we produce the most beautiful pottery.. This trade, was brought here during the Moors occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.    I could relate to many of their designs.

Fes...  The history of Fes is so  very interesting. Its a Berber city.. one of the first tribes there were the Miknasa tribe.. they lived in caves, absolutely fascinating.  I was reading up about them, well into the night.
During the Iberian Inquisition.. many Jews settled in Fes.  Also many arrived there in the early 1930's just before the war.. They have the finest of jewelry shops one could ever see.. living peaceful lives as Moroccan Jews.

  No high rise buildings whatsoever.   Its still the same as it was thousands of years ago... (that is.. within the Medina) . One had to walk sideways in the alleys to let the other people pass.  The people are friendly warm and welcoming.
We were delighted to also see, that there is no child labor .. the children must attend school.. that was so good to know and see.   Many women, work in the tile factories and the hotels.  
The university of Fes.. Al Quaraouryine-  was founded in 859.. the oldest University in the world, and still functioning.
Fes, is the second oldest city in Afica and the oldest city of Morocco... two reasons why we wanted to visit.. and my son wanted to see the University.. many foreign students there too.

We ate the most delicious food.. I myself think Moroccan cusine .. the tastiest I have ever eaten.
The food was so excellent in our Hotel, we didnt have to go out.. it was first class.

I hope you enjoy just reading a little of our trip to Fes.. Morocco Is a very fast moving African country that is a pleasure to visit.

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.

Val