Experiences in Fes

On the way to the sights of the old town, I meet Maja, a Finn, with whom I visit the Medersa Attarine, a former Koranic school with a beautiful courtyard. Then we continue to the oldest educational institution in the world, the University of al-Qarawiyīn, which can only be seen from the outside because only Muslims are allowed inside. We still have lunch together, Moroccan couscous, before I go back to my riad for a nap. :)

In the evening, I go to the ruins to watch the sunset, from where I can overlook the city of Fes. I first arrive at another hill in front of the ruins, but there is a road in between. A few boys show me the way to the ruins, and when they ask for money, I give them the leftovers of my couscous that I still had as a doggy bag in my bag. They are also happy about that.

On the third day in Fez, the sun is already shining early in the morning. After getting myself a SIM card and my bus ticket to Chefchaouen for the next day, I stroll through the old town again. On the way to the tanneries, my mood for sightseeing is clouded by the guys who want to sell me a tour there. I'm not interested in that. Instead, I sit down in a restaurant, off the main street, a real stroke of luck, where I try Moroccan pastilla and a delicious detox smoothie. Everything is beautifully presented, and the prices are quite okay.

In the evening, I go to a traditional hamam, which I booked through Airbnb. I meet Yassine, the host, who leads me to the hamam bath, where I meet his mother and a Japanese woman who is staying with Yassine's family through Airbnb. The hammam couldn't have been more authentic. The scrubbing is anything but gentle, but my skin feels really soft afterwards. Afterwards, I have tea and cookies at Massine's house. I am interested in learning more about Islam from Yassine, even if I may not necessarily share his beliefs. He also gives me great tips for my trip, a good contact to his friend from the desert, and later he and his friend accompany me back to the old town. After all the not so great first impressions of the Moroccans, it's nice to meet really friendly and open-minded people like Yassine and his family.

-