Once capital, now a bustling and busy dual city with nothing else to prove, Fes stands alone as the medina captial of the world. After getting our feet wet in Meknes, we knew what to expect in the medinas of Fes. Oh, how wrong we were.
We took the early train to Fes after visiting Volubilis and the 5th holy Islamic city of Moulay Idriss. The white washed town covers a hill, flanked between two mountains. The central mosque has a tomb of the grandson of the prophet Mohammed. Quite the hike but the view was mesmerizing.
ruins of Volubilis
Moulay Idriss from up top.
We made more friends on the train, who knew people, who then knew people that could help us upon arrival. Nope, not falling for that one again. Luckily, We had plans to stay with a family in the medina, and they came to pick us up in the train station.
Our host family was very kind and their house was equally beautiful. The house was smilar to the riad we stayed at in Meknes, but this was more homey and not as touristy. The little kids were running around, eager to take a peak at the new guest while the smell of fresh tajin filled the house. Mint tea was served, making it official, we were in Fes. The house was on the outskirts of the medina, so we tried to handle it on our own. We quickly learned where the major traffic patterns of people lead to and figured ot out. On one section you could find piles of freshly made sweets then turn the corner to find people hammering away at brass pots. Butchers with a whole cow right in front of you to chopped up shark next door, this place had it all. It was a little much to take in all at once, but getting lost was part of thr fun.
medina wandering
tea time in medina.
after all of our senses were at their limits, we stoped for tea and watched the people go on with their lives. The sun was setting over the medina as our tummies began to yell at us. We wandered to a square near us to find some street food as the smell of charred meat infiltrated our noses. I pointed to what one person was eating and gestured, 1 please. Merci. Shokran. This process repeated several times till the grumble and rumble stopped. Cactus fruits, escargot and even cotton candy. Satisfied, we found our way back to outlr family house. Our short stint in the medinas only had us warmed up for the next 24 hours.
My good friend Sarah was coming in from Chicago, and neither she or any of us has any means of communication. I will save her story and day 2 and 3 in Fes for anothrt post. Its late in Ouarzazatte and i need some sleep.