We arrived at our Riad in Fez, the Dar Bensouda, quite late but the pool was a very welcome sight!
We had decided not to eat in as they do not serve wine and had arranged to be escorted to another Riad...with wine! On google maps the Resto Darori was chosen because it seemed to be just around the corner. Definitely not... a 10 minute walk, downhill going, uphill on the way back!
However our first Moroccan Chicken Tajine there was excellent. As was the local Vin Gris! The French were there until 1956 so they left lots of winemaking knowledge!
As it was too dark to check out where we were staying the night before an early morning rooftop trip seemed in order! Sun was just coming up.....
View from my bedroom window was great... most rooms in raids open to a central courtyard....
Beautiful doors in the riad.....
We were happy to see the pool area in daylight and enjoy breakfast there.....
Amazingly every building in the Medina had lots of satellites on their roofs. The Medina here has not changed very much in the last 1000 years.... small narrow lanes, no cars, calls to prayer from the many many Mosques, five times per day......but everyone is connected!
This abandoned Mosque is the reason the Dar Bensouda cannot get a license to sell wine... too close!
However I learnt too late that they have no objection to people bringing their own wine as then they are technically not selling it.
First thing we saw when leaving the Dar was the garbage collection... all done by donkeys!!
Then we realized that this was just about the only means of transport around the Medina!
Then on to the Souks... being refurbished....
We were surprised to see many many cats and they were all waiting for handouts..... Muslims take very good care of all cats. Dogs not so lucky!
The vegetable and meat markets were interesting.....
We saw lots of items for the first time.....
an odd camel head or two..... definitely not interested in camel burgers!
and coppersmiths are still at work...same location for centuries!
Carpets are still being made and sold..... I think we disappointed.....we were not interested in buying, even after being plied with mint tea!
Lunch was an annoying affair..... we had arranged lunch in the Ruined Garden but our guide said we were too far away to go back and that in any case we should go to a typical local moroccan restaurant not being touted by tourists. This turned out to be a restaurant on the tour guide track, being touted instead by local tour guides........
... every table had tourists being left by their guide with a 'back in 45minutes' parting shot. This was the worst meal we had in Morocco! And of course our tour guide ended up with a commission.
This was to be the only time we fell for this! And we did let the tour guide know we did not appreciate it! The restaurant also deserved the bad review I left on TripAdvisor!
We had decided not to eat in as they do not serve wine and had arranged to be escorted to another Riad...with wine! On google maps the Resto Darori was chosen because it seemed to be just around the corner. Definitely not... a 10 minute walk, downhill going, uphill on the way back!
However our first Moroccan Chicken Tajine there was excellent. As was the local Vin Gris! The French were there until 1956 so they left lots of winemaking knowledge!
As it was too dark to check out where we were staying the night before an early morning rooftop trip seemed in order! Sun was just coming up.....
Amazingly every building in the Medina had lots of satellites on their roofs. The Medina here has not changed very much in the last 1000 years.... small narrow lanes, no cars, calls to prayer from the many many Mosques, five times per day......but everyone is connected!
This abandoned Mosque is the reason the Dar Bensouda cannot get a license to sell wine... too close!
However I learnt too late that they have no objection to people bringing their own wine as then they are technically not selling it.
First thing we saw when leaving the Dar was the garbage collection... all done by donkeys!!
Then on to the Souks... being refurbished....
We were surprised to see many many cats and they were all waiting for handouts..... Muslims take very good care of all cats. Dogs not so lucky!
The vegetable and meat markets were interesting.....
We saw lots of items for the first time.....
pastry for the famed Pastillas...
an odd camel head or two..... definitely not interested in camel burgers!
and coppersmiths are still at work...same location for centuries!
Lunch was an annoying affair..... we had arranged lunch in the Ruined Garden but our guide said we were too far away to go back and that in any case we should go to a typical local moroccan restaurant not being touted by tourists. This turned out to be a restaurant on the tour guide track, being touted instead by local tour guides........
... every table had tourists being left by their guide with a 'back in 45minutes' parting shot. This was the worst meal we had in Morocco! And of course our tour guide ended up with a commission.
This was to be the only time we fell for this! And we did let the tour guide know we did not appreciate it! The restaurant also deserved the bad review I left on TripAdvisor!
Love your pics and commentary, Margaret. It made me feel like I was on the trip with you!
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