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Published: January 22nd 2020
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22.01.2020
FES After spending a free day exploring Chefchaouen, we moved on to Fes yesterday, and we are here for 2 nights.
On the way we stopped at the ancient city of Volubilis, which covers a 42 hectare area. The then capital was founded in the 3rd century BC!!! The city was extremely well preserved until the Lisbon earthquake in 1755, when it was pretty much flattened.
We stopped in Meknes for lunch. Shane has developed more than a liking for moroccon tacos. Hamid now asks every day, " Shane (pronounced Shine) my friend, what would you like for your lunch today? More tacos?" . " Sounds good", says Shine.?
Then its a whirlwind tour of the city, including the granery which used to hold up to 20 years worth of grain, and the royal stables which housed over 12,000 royal horses. More incredibly, each horse had a groom AND a slave! Its reported that this King loved his horses more than his prized harem. This site too, was almost completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
We didnt arrive last night until about 7.30pm. Its freezing cold, but the heater is on in the 2x2 single
room they have plonked us in for tonight, apologising that we can have a bigger room tomorrow night. WTF? I'm not happy and the royal horse I'm on is about 20 hands high!
We've had an amazing city experience with city guide Mohammed today. Fez is most famous for its ancient walled city, Fez el Bali. People who live in this medina get lost in this medina. Most special today was the visit to the mosaic factory and the tannery. The pictures tell it all. Before coming here though I was going to buy myself a lovely leather bag. Alas, I was bitterly disappointed. As my taste moved in to the 21st century, the bags here remain loyal to the 80's!
Lunch is interesting to say the least. Mohammed has taken us to his favourite restaurant in the medina, the Berrada family restaurant.
"Please, go in to the kitchen to choose what you will have for lunch".
The cook takes a small spoonful of each of the tagines and, one by one, feeds them to us right off the spoon. No clean spoons for each mouthful here. It's straight from our mouths in to the next
pot for the next tasting!
"So what would you like? Vegetables, beef, meatball, lamb, kebabs?"
"I'll have the vegetables" says I.
" I'm not sure", says Shine, " Can I have a look at the menu?"
"This IS the menu", she laughs. And it was all OH so delicious!
The rug store was quite the experience. Come in....There is no hard sell here.....until there is. Apparently I have expensive taste. They sit us down, and brings us tea. For shits and giggles I have chosen a rug and a runner that I like. Best deal works out to be around AU$6000. No problem! You dont want to buy for that price, you tell me how much you would want to spend on a rug. I'm thinking about $500....this IS the start of a very long trip for us I explain.
No problem, thank you for coming and have a good life?
Dinner tonight is the Clock cafe, recommended for its camel burgers. Its amazing how a 10 year old kid knows what you're looking for inside a crowded medina. Come with me to clock cafe.....and off we go!
Shane says: Hopefully I
can get a camel taco.
Sharls has the most expensive taste in bloody everything. Had to work my finger to the bone to afford this trip. She wants a 6K rug and runner. Thats like, a lot of beer/wine money. Lots!
Young bloke asked me as I was passing by " You want beer?". Of course I want beer, I replied. "Good deal for you" he says, 300 DHS for a 12 pack. $50 AUD. Umm I'll pass on that champ. Mint tea it is to wash down this tasty camel taco.
Sharls:Pfft, the only thing that worked your finger to the bone was your ping pong bat! I have good taste! It's not my fault that the hairy rug man can put a price on good taste....however on this occasion it IS to my disadvantage.
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