20231114 Sahara to Fes: Up at 7:00, breakfast, on the four-wheel car at 8:30, Erfoud by 9:00 and transfer to our bus. This was a long day ending in Fes at the hotel around 6:00. The trip was through the Middle Atlas into a smaller part of the range and then out of the mountains altogether.
So, some things:
- Ishmael has done a good job filling us in on the rituals for dating and asking a woman to marry.
- There are “Dynastic Lands” in the desert. These are lands owned by the king, but given to local people in the region to own and raise crops. One has to build a small house as a start. Many plant date palms. Ownership passes down generations and no one is allowed to sell the land.
- Judaism is part and parcel of this culture from its beginnings. The current king has an advisor who is Jewish.
- You see palm trees with the exterior burned. This is to kill bugs but does not harm the tree.
- I brought sandals for the desert, but never wore them and did not get sand in my shoes.
- Very happy I did this trip. Experience of a lifetime even with getting Covid.
- Lots of police road checks mainly for driver IDs and logs. We are rarely stopped in the bus.
- Food is relatively inexpensive, good, and large portions.
- There is almost no graffiti.
- Passed through area where apples are grown and there are cork trees.
The day brought lots of changing scenery. We started in the dunes, went into desert terrain, mountains in the background. Some towns and villages along the way. Then up into the mountains with lots of curves, down into a valley, up again. Passed by lush oasis or two with date palms. There were whole stretches of time with absolutely nothing out there. Then, round a corner, and you’re in a town. Went through valleys with wooded hillsides. Some areas with sparse grass. Moved from area mostly with Berber population to Fes, which has an Arab population.
Nice lunch at a huge hotel where they serve grilled trout from local streams.
The oddest town we went through was Ifrane. It’s Swiss architecture and ski slopes in the middle of the mountains. Strange, to sat the least. It’s also home to a big university.
Got into Fes. Big city. Lots of traffic. Here you can see many women with no head covering. Had to walk to the hotel since bus cannot get near it. We are at RIAD YACOUT, FES where I am in Room 15. To get here, it’s up and down various stairs. Beautiful and big old building. I think Moorish design with it’s tiles, arches, colors.
Nice dinner. I got to sit with the big kids! Tomorrow is a really full day spent mostly in the oldest and biggest medina in Morocco.
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