Medieval cities of Morocco

Hello from Fez! Yes, it is as amazing as the guidebooks say! We decided to travel by bus for a few days while waiting for our spare parts to arrive. An Capall is back at the campsite in Chefchaouen. Took a nice 6 hour bus journey to Meknes, weaving through green valleys that have seen plenty of rain this past while. Parts of it reminded us of Ireland, except they make much greater use of donkeys and horses in the fields than we do! We found a hotel near the medina and explored the streets of Meknes, and ate in a lovely restaurant in the Place el-Hedim (large open square). From here, you see this incredible monumental gateway; which was the main entrance to the imperial city. The old city lies within these incredible walls that have obviously stood the test of time. Just like Chefchaouen the medina is full of twists and turns (though not hilly, so you can walk further). The markets (souqs) are fantastic, with vivid colour and examples of craftsmanship at every turn. Glorious smells follow you and in the air - fruit, spices, musk, perfumes. There's this beautiful sense of purpose, of artisans creating goods that are bought and used by Moroccan people everyday.

We really feel like we've stepped back in time these past few days (save for the presence of internet cafes, of course!) Little cubby-hole shops are run by proud owners - you see them make tiles, dye the textiles, sew the garments, weave the rugs in their own little shop. And this isn't for tourists. Most of the shop-owners take no notice of us - except for the polite offer to visit their shop, or welcome us to Morocco. There are tiled water fountains, archways, cobbled streets, people attending mosque, making things, mending things and you get this sense that it hasn't changed that much in 100 years.

We are both really enjoying all the culinary experiences, especially the pastries and freshly-squeezed orange juice (Linda)! In a strange turn-around, Mike has discovered that he loves tea!! Well, Moroccan tea, which is minty and laced with sugar. Meanwhile, coffee-phobic Linda has taken to drinking cafe au lait. Isn't it interesting how travelling changes you!

So, we just arrived in Fez a few hours ago and we are already suitably impressed and looking forward to exploring tomorrow.