Fez is the second oldest city in the world after Jerusalem. It lays claim to the first psychiatric and surgical hospitals, the oldest university and library (coincidentally, founded by a woman) and the world's 3rd largest mosque.
Volubilis was a caravansary for the Berbers and the capital of Mauritania, before becoming an important Roman outpost in the 2nd century BCE. It marked the furthest reach of the Roman Empire into Africa.
We arrive in Fez. And then, a series of small unfortunate events starts to occur... Shoe photo courtesy of Brenda Dougal Merriman.
The manorhouse inside the Qasaba is the home of an Ethnographic Museum, displaying traditional Moroccan craft.
Nearing sunset, a pale blue and white landscape comes into view. It's Chefchaouen, a mountain community built in 1471. Photo credit: Mark Charteris.
We arrive in Rabat, founded in the 10th century, now the second largest metropolis in Morocco. We drive along the crenelated wall of the Kasbah of the Oudaias and walk through the medina to our riad.
Today we visit to the Municipal Building - a miniature version of the Lion Courtyard from the Alhambra (which cracked me up after seeing the original in Granada). Afterwards, Doug took me to a nearby souk where I begin to build my Moroccan wardrobe.
It has taken me three days to pack,, in preparation for my top-of-bucket list destination. At last, I'm on my way to Morocco.
I find the Great Mosque but cannot enter. There's a fountain in the courtyard and a great view of the Alhambra in the distance. The view must be spectacular at night.
"...The lower part of the walls is encrusted with beautiful Moorish tiles… the upper part is faced with fine stucco-work...artfully joined, so as to have the appearance of having been laboriously sculpted by hand…”
Daveno Travels 