Volubilis and Blue City

 In Volubilis we took a guided walk around this Roman archaeological site that was entered into the World Heritage list in 1997. Occupied since pre historic times it was the Romans who left the most lasting monuments. The wind was freezing and then the rain started so it was back to the bus to make the nearly four hour trip back to Tangier.

 Our guide presented me with two wild flowers. The mauve one was Morning Glory and the orange a daisy of some kind.

 There were lots of wildflowers on the way home but the heavens opened later and that meant no more photos from the bus of the beautiful colours.

 Got a quickie of this cell phone tower which had been taken over by stork nests. Amazing

 The rain was torrential and the flooding on the road became a bit of a concern as it was looking as though we were going to be caught between two rivers.

 The next we set out from Tangier which is a very modern city and drove the two hour drive to  Chefchaouen The Blue city high up in the Riff mountains. It was a beautiful scenic drive and the weather was fine and sunny.

 There was no doubting that we had arrived when all of a sudden the blue washed buildings appeared. What an amazing sight. It was so beautiful and when we got inside the wall of the old town it was just stunning with the narrow streets full of homes, shops and archways all in sky blue.

 The door was open to this home so couldn't help but take a sneaky photo. Wow.

There were some pretty samples of all kinds of doors in the town. I still have more photos to post as there seems to have been a bit of an error occurred somehow and half the photos didn't download.

Meknes, Volublis Morocco

 In Meknes we visited a ceramic factory. The men below were making a mosaic pillar out of small tile chips. All the pieces had to be put on inside out and the pattern had to exactly match the already completed other half, below.

 These pots were stunning and it was really tempting to buy something but we resisted the temptation.

 The mosaic decorated gate into the Medina. Meknes is one of the most extensive and and best conserved historic towns of the Arab- muslim world. It is also the former capital of Morocco. The narrow streets were crowded and lined with  riads (houses ) and shops where artisans use age-old tools and methods to create handicrafts and other goods.

 This man was selling bananas which already looked very over ripe.

 Lunch stop at a former palace. The moroccan food is very tasty.

 Coppersmiths at work.

One of  my favourite places we visited was the Tannery where the lambskins are dyed for making leather jackets and bags etc. On the wall outside is some of the dead wool removed from the animal. The fast flowing stream running along the tannery was used for washing the skins before they were treated for dyeing.

 The smell was pretty bad and we were given a large sprig of mint to hold up to our noses. I guess it helped a little. The dye pots in the back ground were the ones used for dyeing the skins but only two pots were in use at the time we were there. The skins in the foreground are drying after being dyed.

 Laying the skins in the pot ready for dyeing.

 A mosque in the old town centre.

 Our final place to visit in Meknes was an old Caravansary where 20,000 men and the same number of horses were housed during travel stops. The main building is still reasonably intact but a lot was also in ruins. Quite spectacular and it was huge.

 Our coffee stop on the main street. The strongest and most bitter coffee was served.  These cafes are always frequented by males.

Stocking up the pastry cabinet.

Fez Morocco

 Our three day overland visit from Casablanca to the inland city of Fez was very exciting with new discoveries and experiences. Starting with our hotel inside  the old Medina with its medieval architecture, and old world atmosphere to battling our way past donkeys down very narrow corridors  to get to another point of interest.
Fez is the oldest city in Morocco and built in the ninth century and is now the second largest city.

 Our local guide who was quite a character dropped us at our hotel in time for lunch. A beautifully decorated courtyard that had our eyes popping at every turn.

 Our room, which was comfortable, but the bed not so much. It was the hardest mattress and pillows we have ever slept on.

 The very old lead light windows were beautiful although didn't let much daylight n.

 Tagine cooked chicken for lunch. Very tasty.

 The two photos above are a very old family antique shop we visited and where we saw some amazing artefacts.

 On our walk back towards the souk we passed many sights like this where buildings were re-inforced or patched up very badly and some not at all. The decay was quite disturbing in some places where people were living.

 One of the city gates into the Medina.

Dinner that evening was at La Maison Bleue. Another beautiful venue in a restored townhouse and now a hotel. The food was very good and the ambiance was lovely with great service from waiters in traditional clothes, live unobtrusive traditional music and the sound of running water. It was like travelling back in time. The pie above was pigeon and chicken with icing sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top. I was very apprehensive about eat pigeon but I gave it a try and found it very tasty.

After we finished dinner this musician below danced in a manic trance swirling the tassel on his hat while the man below that played enthusiastically. It was a great night.

 Part of the city wall in the Jewish Quarter and below is the Jewish cemetery.

 The Royal Palace with its seven brass doors, symbolising the seven days of the week. Its middle facade stands 80 feet high and is beautifully decorated with fine Zellij tile work and carved cedar wood. Because the current King uses the palace when he visits Fez these gates are the only portion visitors are allowed to see.

 Dates dates and more dates in the souk. There was a whole row of vendors selling fresh dates.

 Time to boil the Jug for tea.

 There is aways a storks nest to be seen at some high point.

 The old city of Fez taken from the top of a hill above the city. A beautiful sight.

Time to say goodbye to our guide. He gave us a lot of laughs and never got us lost in the 9,000 streets in the old Medina.