Fes, Morocco

We left Heathrow at 0830hrs and arrived at Fes airport just before midday. We were collected by taxi which took us into Fes Old Town. On the way, the streets were lined with hundreds of people waiting for their King.

Music was playing along with tribal dancing and we thought that it was all for us on our first visit! Flags and bunting adorned the route and it made you feel as if you were back in the UK some thirty or more years ago. There was a great sense of feeling that the Moroccans had real pride in their Nation.

Arriving in Fes, we were greeted by two members from the Hotel (Riad) we were to stay at for the next five days. They were to transport our luggage in a two wheeled cart through very narrow passages to the hotel. Miranda was not happy going through lanes built in the fifteenth century. I viewed it as if I was going back in time, having arrived courtesy Tardis. Miranda had other thoughts.....

We finally arrived at a pair of double doors opening onto a narrow hallway. On entering the Riad we could not believe our eyes; from the ancient outside to a palace inside.

The gentleman wearing a Fes is someone we met later on. A Professor in French language, who invited us along to his home during our weeks stay only a few hundred metres away from the Riad.

The wealthy, in times gone past, would not show their wealth and so built palaces within the Medina walls. These were known as Riad's and were magnificently clad in terracotta tiles both on the floors, pillars and walls. There was no roof when they were built. A temporary roof is all that exists today which serves to keep the inner courtyard dry from the infrequent rain.

To be continued