After seven joyous (and exhausting!) weeks with my grandsons (2 year-old Owen and 2 month-old Warren)
in Portland,
and a week or so in Baltimore, Rick & I are back to our travels.
Our first destination was Fes, Morocco, chosen because it was our favorite city in Morocco on our trip here ten years ago AND because we expected that it would be warm (it was…). We stayed in the same riad – Dar Atajalli – (a traditional Moroccan ‘B&B’) as on our earlier trip and it was just as beautiful.
The medina (walled city) is a warren of narrow alleyways
where motorized vehicles are prohibited, but donkeys are not.
Everything imaginable can be bought here, from rugs and leather jackets to jewelry and goat meat.
I’m returning with recipes (none for goat head, though!) after a full day cooking class with Amina, our wonderful host that included an educational trip to the markets. Rick & I ate what I prepared at dinner on the roof terrace of our lovely riad.
after enjoying a dramatic sunset.
We found a wonderful guide, Hesham, who spent a whole day with us taking us to see various workshops in the Medina. We visited (and smelled…) the tanneries, where the leather products in the shops begin with lamb and camel skins that are cleaned, dried and dyed in huge vats used by many families.
Then on to the weavers, who make rugs, blankets, scarves and beautiful fabrics
used by the many tailors whose whirring sewing machines can be heard throughout the Medina.
And, of course, the tile setters…who make table tops, fountains and the walls of most buildings from precisely cut pieces
carefully arranged to make intricate designs.
People often ask us to declare our favorite place from all of our travels. That is a hard answer to conjure, but I will say that Morocco is the most exotic location we’ve visited. And Fes captures almost everything we love about Morocco…except riding camels in the desert…
Soooo glad to hear the latest adventure and see adorable pictures of your grand babies !
So good to hear from the two of you and congratulations on the new grandchild, what a wonderful report from your stay in Morocco!
It is such a privilege to be on your mailing list and to be able to travel with you vicariously
I hope you have a wonderful spring the weather here is still very chaotic sending my love from Baltimore to you
Marion
Kathy & Rick so good to hear from you. Report of your travels and adventures has become a staple for wonder and possibilities. Your grandchildren are gorgeous. The pics of Morocco are so beautiful.
Wishing continued travels and glad you are back to sparks my adventure gene from afar. Kathy
Beautiful grandchildren and loved your narrative and pictures of Morocco. Happy travels!
Joan & Mike
“A warren of narrow alleyways” Love it!
I would love to visit Fez but…and you know where I am going…does anyone wear a fez anymore? 😉
Kathy, Morocco looks amazing. And your tour of all the industries there seems like a great way to get to know Fez from the inside. I hope to follow in your footsteps someday…:)
It was great to see you while you were in town. Love you! Ginnie
Hi Kathy and Rick — Nice to be back on the road with you again! Warren and big brother Owen are adorable — love the one in the grass. Thanks for the pix from Fes/Fez. I was there in the late 60s. At that time, most likely smaller, and to me, quite exciting and exotic. Enjoy! OXO
Beautiful children. Congratulations,
Wonderful Blog. Fantastic photos. Like being there. Very happy that you guys are on the road again.
PS: I forgot to mention that some thing like 50 and 30 years ago respectively we are overnight in Tangiers (it felt like a Bing Crosby/ Bob Hope movie…and looked it) and Casablanca (Rick was long gone) but Fes looked particularly authentic and your apartment was terrific.