Our train left Rabat main station about 10:30am, for what was to be a 3hr journey to Fes, the spiritual home and cultural capital of Morocco. Although the train was pretty busy, our compartment was nice and quiet with AC and seats like very comfortable armchairs, which made the journey sail by. Our driver met us outside the station and took us to our resting place for the next few days, the “Dar Victoria” Riad’s are the way to go in Fes and this one, which sits right on the edge of the Medina came highly recommended. Many are historical buildings in their own right, that families have turned into self styled B&B’s and this one was no exception, it was a delight! We decided on having lunch (entrées and a delicious chicken tangine) before sliding into the medina, which Incidentally was founded in the 9th century. The UNESCO protected medina is the largest, medieval walled city in the world with over 9400 streets all of which are pedestrianised. The only way to successfully navigate and fully appreciate the history of the medina is with a good guide and Nourdin arrived just as we were finishing lunch. So after introductions and agreeing on what we wanted to see we opened our heavy cast iron door and stepped out directly into the Medina. In the direct sunlight the temperature was 30 degrees, but the medina felt cool and as we turned from one corner to another, it began to come to life. We moved through a small square where men were engrossed in card games, oblivious to life going on around them. We crossed a road, where a river once stood, but it had been diverted to accommodate life beyond the medina. Once back inside the medina, we moved through the vegetable sellers through to the butchers, which immediately awoke senses I never knew I had!
Dream Chasers 