Morocco ( August 3rd 2016)

CASABLANCA

Our Royal Air Maroc flight AT 514 touched down at Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport at exactly 10 AM local time. The airport seemed nice; however, we quickly noticed a different atmosphere from where we had just left. The immigration line was long and somewhat chaotic. We watched people push, shove and at a couple points even start yelling at each other about the whole process. Watching officials passionately argue and deny entry to some people all added to the entertainment.

Once through immigration we collected our bags and made our way to the train that took us downtown. It was very convenient how the train took us to Casa Port Station which is very close to the HI Hostel were we were staying .

In the aftenoon we went out to explore the city a bit. Having only a  short time in "Casa" we figured we'd better at least see the Hassan II Mosque. It is the 3rd largest in the world and walking around it and checking it out from different directions took up most of our afternoon. 

The evening consisted of a slight dispute within our room. As it turned out the current occupant was unwilling to leave even though we clearly had proof of a reservation for a "private" room. After an attempt to chase the unwanted roommate out we finally surrendered the space to him and took another room. Later noticing all the cats outside we began to understand the little guys reluctance to leave...

RABAT

We took a 10:20  train from Casablanca to Rabat.  It was a very comfortable hour long ride. 

Once arriving in Rabat Ville Station we made our way up Ave Mohammed V and eventually found our way to the Riad Meftaha Hotel. We were very impressed with the warm welcome we received here and spent the first hour happily soaking up the atmosphere in the lobby area as they finished preparing our room.

Some of the highlights for us in Rabat included walking around the walls and alleyways at Les Oudayas. 

We explored the mosaic lined walkways and markets in the Médina area and we took in La Tour Hassan and the cool, marble  mausoleum build for Mohammed V, the Sultan who successfully negotiated Morocco's Independence in 1956.

The first night we ate tajin and pastilla poulet at a Moroccan place called Dar Naji and the second night we had shawarma & lamb kebab at a Syrian place called Yamal Acham.  Both were good meals; however, we both enjoyed the second place a little more. Top highlight for us in Rabat would likely simply be the breakfasts and accommodations at the full of character Riad Meftaha Hotel.  The name of the place translates into "The garden to the key of happiness". At roughly $65.Cdn a night I'd have to agree the name is very appropriate.

FES

We arrived in Fes on Tuesday August 2nd at 12:40 pm. As soon as we got off the train we could tell the heat was on! We were hit with a blast of hot air unlike we had experienced anywhere else so far on this trip. By the time we arrived at the Hostel we felt we were closer to Hell than what was supposed to be the spiritual capital of Morocco.

It was a long hot sweaty night at the Hostel.  Although the temperature dropped about 10°C from the 42°C it was when we arrived it was still too warm for us to get much sleep. Nevertheless, the next morning was a new day and we were ready to get an early start on Fes.

Within the 1200 year old walls of Fes Médina we wandered around the incredible maze of twisting alleys, blind turns and hidden alleyways.

These alleys were designed years before anyone could ever imagine the use of cars and trucks. Donkeys are still the main way goods are moved within the Médina.

At times we felt like we were in a scene out of Arabian Nights or Indiana Jones and were never quite sure what we would discover around each corner.

Having satisfied ourselves with what we had seen of Fes by about mid day we opted to take refuge from the sun in a shopping centre in the "new" district of town. We ate lunch and made a survival strategy plan which consisted of bailing on our hostel and moving into an air conditioned hotel.

It turned out to be a very good call.