Hell is Heat Exhaustion at African Roman Ruins
Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 - Wednesday, June 7th, 2017
Fes, Meknés, Rabat, & Casablanca, Morocco
This probably won't surprise you, but Morocco is HOT.
We spent Tuesday in the Medina, and even though we lost Dad (see the previous post), the twisty walls did keep us shaded and fairly cool. (If you don't watch any other vlog, watch this one, because it will give you an inside peek into the Medina.)
Vlog Day 5, June 6th
We had no such luck at Volubilis, an old ruin of a Roman town. No shade, and glaring sun at its peak. Per the title, and thanks to a quick self-diagnosis on WebMD, I think I was suffering from heat exhaustion by the end of our visit. Still, it was worth it to follow in the footsteps of the amazing Roman architects that sculpted this town thousands of years ago.
Vlog Day 6, June 7th
The last two days have been filled with amazing and crazy experiences. We went to:
The Medina in Fes
Fes 52502
Morocco
The Medina was crazy and loud and colorful and like nowhere else I've ever been. Although you can walk around alone, I was so glad we hired a guide. (Our guide actually reached out to us on the street in Fes, but you can also arrange guides through your hotel, or if you're with a tour company, they probably provide one.) We did have to go to a few "special shops", that are designed to sell and display their products to tourists, and all have a "special price"... But that was fine because it did allow us a chance to sit down, and we ended up buying some of the lotions they were selling (although we didn't buy any of the $6000 rugs. Not sure how we would have fit that in our suitcases.) Do stick close together and make sure you have a few good map if you're without a guide because it's VERY easy to get lost. That being said, it's 100% worth the risk of getting lost, to see the medina.
Synagogue Aben Danan
Jewish Quarter, Fes
Morocco
The synagogue was small, and a bit out of the way, in the old Jewish quarter. Although we didn't spend too much time here, it was interesting learning about the Jewish history in what is now a predominately Muslim country. It's no longer in use and is now a museum.
Miroir Café
BD Allal Ben Abdellah Res Adraoui
Fes
Morocco
This was a nice, casual and fairly local place to grab a late dinner. Nothing too fancy. We had pizza and chicken nuggets. But it was open when a lot of places were closed already for the evening.
Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
8 Avenue Ahmed Chaouki
Fes 30000
Morocco
This is the only Marriott hotel in Marocco, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The room was clean, the staff were friendly, the food was good. The pool was AMAZING! It was a really great oasis after spending the mornings out in the bustling city. It was nice to come back here and just relax.
Volubilis
Meknès
Morocco
I had never heard of this Roman town before we went here, and I haven't really given much thought to Roman expansion into Africa. (The Roman Empire was seriously huge!) It's pretty out of the way, so it might be a little tricky to get here, but it's also worth it if you can. The town has an interesting history, after being abandoned by the Romans in the 3rd c BCE. Much of it still hasn't been excavated, and it is an enormous site. The day we visited was hot, so traipsing around under the sun made the whole thing marginally less fun. Luckily (and a little surprisingly, given the remoteness of the site), there was an air-conditioned visitor center, clean bathrooms, and a stand selling ice cream and cold drinks to enjoy on little tables in the shade. Would recommend a visit, but if at all possible, I'd try to go on a day when it's not 99 degrees.
Rabat Kasbah
Off Rue des Consuls
Rabat 10030
Morocco
The Rabat Kasbah is painted blue and white and might just be the most charming little town you've ever seen. An hour is enough time to visit, and it's worth it. There are groups of men waiting outside the gates, offering (or demanding) to give you tours. It got to the point where it was just easier to go with one of the guides than attempting to keep brushing them off. (Tip: If you don't want a guide, try telling them you've already been to see the Kasbah... And then walk around on your own. It's small enough that you don't really need a guide.) It wasn't a long tour, probably ten minutes, and he did show us a few interesting doors we wouldn't have seen, and there wasn't a flat fee, we just tipped him at the end. Extra cool: We ask a local woman to show us the local bakery and communal oven, and bought fresh bread for only 2 dh (the equivalent of $0.20.)Eurostar Hotel, Casablanca
Building Four Times 3
Casablanca 20190
Morocco
The Eurostar Hotel was fairly nice, but it didn't feel like a four-star hotel, it felt like an upper-end budget hotel. The restaurant had good food but gave off cafeteria vibes. The rooms were clean but more practical than fancy. The hotel was convenient because we needed to be close to the airport. Overall, not a particularly great, or bad hotel.
A lot of the individual sites we saw and shops we visited in the Medina, I can't track down.
Shukraan and wadaeaan Morocco,
Cristiana
