A Day in Fes

Breakfast at Courtyard of Raid Jaouhara in Fes.

Day 10 - Rather than subjecting ourselves to the indignity of another exhausting day trip only to retreat to the exact same hotel room, Jay and I plotted a far grander exit strategy for our Monday departure. We decided by then, it will be high time to pack up the circus completely and commit to a much larger expedition southward.

We have officially parted with perfectly good Canadian dollars for the distinct privilege of a three night / four day desert expedition. We start the gauntlet by heading into lush forests of the Middle Atlas Mountains visiting traditional Berber villages before migrating to Sahara's sand for an obligatory camel ride. Frankly, these ill tempered, spitting ungulates were a dime a dozen during our Middle East years, but one must play the tourist. 

As we extract ourselves from the desert, we will wander the cinematic ruins of Ouarzazate, squinting at the exact spot where Hollywood shoots every single gladiator epic. Assuming the treacherous mountain ranges do not claim us on the final leg, Jay and I will finally collapse into a heavily air conditioned, four night stationary interlude in Marrakech.

I have included a few photographic highlights below to document our stroll through Jnan Sbil Gardens, situated just on the other side of the upper plaza. Today's little excursion naturally required navigating our way down the hill, which inevitably meant a punishing slog right back up again. Fortunately, Jay and I survived the incline and immediately rewarded ourselves with a highly satisfying lunch. The entire meal for the two of us set us back a mere 100 dirhams, which translates to a highly agreeable total of less than US $11.