3 days in Fes / 3 jours à FES... Largement suffisant !

Arriving in Fes as your first stop in Morocco is a dare devil move. The explosion your senses are exposed to is incredible. Fes in as old as it get in Morocco. It is a city distinctly divided in new Fes and old Fes. It's the old Fes that is interesting.

All of the old city is within the medina - basically an incredible maze of small (I really mean small) streets and building everywhere. You read in the guide book that you will get lost. Hmm, not me because I'm pretty damn good at finding my way. Well, that was arrogant and we got lost! Now, that is part of the experience, you go out and start walking in this maze and it doesn't take long before you get lost. Not to worry though, keep on walking and you find your way sooner or later.

Now, Fes is an explosion for you senses - visual, noisy, smelly, cramped, people everywhere, people hassling you all the time, things going on everywhere and all the time - until you step in to a riad - a house with interior courtyrad, garden mainly for the richer people back in the day. Now converted to hotels and they are amazing. The difference between outside and inside a riad is compelling. A riad offers amazing serenity, calmness, moroccan design (beautiful tile work) and a place to recharge.

Outside, the world is just simply crazy. We even got to experince some threats by a young thug, some fuck offs because we didn't want to talk to everyone. After a while you turn off and learn how to ignore most of the people. This is a shame because I firmly believe that some people are, of course, very nice and would probably offer a great conversation. But, most of the people are real hardend sellers and couldn't care less unless you give them money. I have to put this in comparison to Istanbul and the grand bazaars there. Also islamic culture and hardend sellers, although I found most of them in Instanbul having a joyful sparkle in their eyes. This weren't the case in Morocco in general and Fes in particular.

It has to be said that Morocco and Fes is a photographer paradise - so many interesting environments to capture. It's also a great place to chew down a camel burger - which I did and proved to be good!

Arrivés à l'aéroport, nous voilà "perdus" ... mais où est le bus ! Pas de bus, bon prenons donc le taxi,... au bout de 30 mn on a enfin négocié une voiture qui nous emmène dans la médina de Fès, à notre Riad. Ce qu'on ne sait pas encore, c'est qu'on arrivera pas à notre Riad car il ne sait pas où elle est ! Magnifique, pas de carte, pas de nom de rues... et ben c'est bien la merda !

Allez, on prend nos sacs et c'est parti. Nous voilà partis, perdus dans les rues de la Médina pour trouver notre Riad. Attention, évitez de demander de l'aide car ben faut leur laisser quelques pièces. Au bout de 30 mn de marche dans les rues, en se tordant les chevilles sur les pavés, qui recouvrent de la bouse d'âne, pantalon cracra alors que ca fait que quelques heures que nous sommes arrivés, on se décide à avoir de l'aide.... Mais quel regret, les petits ennuis commencaient... Ca va être l'éclate au Maroc !!!

Arrivés enfin à notre Riad, encore une surprise, "bienvenue dans notre Riad, thé à la menthe ?... tout va bien mes amis....au fait nous n'avons plus de place, mais nos amis dans l'autre riad vont vous accueillir, même prix, même prix...." ... Finalement on paiera 30 € de plus ! Ah ces Marocains... qu'ils sont mimis :)

Première impressions pas très bonne, posons les sacs et allons marcher dans les rues de la Médina... My Godness (comme dirait ma copine Marie...)... Je vous laisse découvrir les photos...