Hello Morocco!
It was our last morning in Paris and there was an outdoor market on Sundays just one street over from our place. We went over to the market and walked around for a bit. We got some delicious crepes to redeem for the bad ones we got 2 days ago. I got a banana caramel crepe and Lacey got a plain sugar and butter (just like Lefse). The market had lots and lots of fresh fruits and veggies and meat and cheese and bread and just like everything. The colors and smells were so amazing. While on our way to leave, there was a guy roasting chicken and pig. He put on kind of show for some of the Asian tourists. We bought some potatoes from him that had been cooking in the fat and grease from the cooking meat. They were very, very good.
After that, we headed back and started to pack up. The Airbnb ended up working out really well. It was a fantastic location and was cute. A couple of random notes. The cat didn't know how to cover its poop in the litter box. Like a normal cat will use its paw to push litter over. This cat would just like claw on the outside of the box and on the wall by the box. It was super weird and funny. Also, the cat would always sleep either on my legs or right where my feet would go on the bed. While this is kind of cute, it was also a little annoying in the middle of the night. It's a good thing we have a cat at home or I would have been very annoyed haha.
We (kind of sadly) left our apartment and squeezed into the tiny elevator again. Our flight to Morocco left out of Orly Airport which is on a different side of Paris from where we flew in. We took a special bus called "OrlyBus" to get us there. Yet again, we were helping people buy tickets from the machine. The bus ride was an easy 30 minutes and we got to the airport with plenty of time. Checking our bags was simple and we moved through security with ease.
The food situation on the flight and in Morocco was an unknown to us so we got a couple quiches in the airport. As usual with these budget airlines (we flew Royal Air Maroc Airlines), the boarding process was kind of a mess and we ended up sitting in the breezeway tunnel and on the plane while people boarded. The plane left about 30 minutes late but it was fine.
They served us a full meal on the 2.5-hour flight so that was nice! Decently flavored chicken, a bun, some chocolate mousse, and some weird crunchy sweet rice. After landing at the airport, we had to wait in line at passport check. This took FOREVER and Lacey and I both got a little testy. Inside the airport, we got some cash and changed into lighter clothes.
Right as we were about to start figuring out where to go, it started to absolutely downpour. Like torrential downpour. It appeared that everyone else from our flight had already left so we were kind of standing around. Eventually, I asked an official-looking guy about taxis and he got us one. There is very little public transport in Morocco, and literally no public transport to and from the airport (taxi only).
There are 3 main areas to Fes. There's the New Town which has more modern looking buildings and roads for cars, there's the Jewish Quarter which has absolutely tiny walkways and is residential, and there's the Medina which has slightly wider walkways and has lots of shops selling things (but no cars). The ride from the airport to the Medina opening (called the Blue Gate) is usually about 30 minutes. With the torrential downpour, flooded streets, crazy drivers, and occasional hail, this ride felt more like a lifetime haha. The driver did a great job being safe but man was it hair-raising at certain points.
We got to the Blue Gate and started our journey through the Medina. It's an assault on the eyes and ears the first time you enter. Lots of people trying to bring you into their restaurant or sell you on a tour or have you buy stuff. Plus the buildings are beautiful and the stuff they're selling looks cool. Once you get walking in a little further the pushiness tends to back off. Our hostel is about an 8-minute walk into the Medina and they gave us really good directions to find it. I was very nervous about getting lost in there but we had a pretty easy time finding it.
We're staying at a riad (an old house now used as a hotel or hostel) called Dar Jannat. The owner's name is Moussa and he is super nice. He helped us with our bags and served us mint tea with sugar. It was pretty good! Eventually, he showed us to our room which is on the 3rd floor and is pretty large. Unfortunately, it has a hard bed (just like in Asian). This place is only about $35 a night so can't really complain.
As usual, we rested for a bit and did some research on where to eat. We decided on a place called "Cafe Clock". Again, I was nervous about getting lost but Lacey was confident and led the way for a lot of it. The walk was only about 10 minutes and we got turned out a couple times but overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought. The cafe is also in a riad so there's a middle courtyard with each level open to the courtyard and looking down. As we walked in, some kind of music show was playing and it was crazy! Like we walked it and it was so loud and the host just kind of told everyone to walk up the stairs and find a place to sit. Eventually, the music stopped and the place calmed down but it was an unbelievable moment for a bit.
The wait staff in Morocco has more a "hands off" approach. They're not rude or anything but they get your order, deliver your food, and come back when you're done eating. Like that's it, no checking in. I ordered the camel burger (yes you read that right) and Lacey got a chicken stew type of dish. Her chicken was super flavorful with lots of spices and my camel burger was the bomb.
Going back to our hostel was very easy now that we knew the way. I finished a blog post and we both went to bed ready for another day!
After that, we headed back and started to pack up. The Airbnb ended up working out really well. It was a fantastic location and was cute. A couple of random notes. The cat didn't know how to cover its poop in the litter box. Like a normal cat will use its paw to push litter over. This cat would just like claw on the outside of the box and on the wall by the box. It was super weird and funny. Also, the cat would always sleep either on my legs or right where my feet would go on the bed. While this is kind of cute, it was also a little annoying in the middle of the night. It's a good thing we have a cat at home or I would have been very annoyed haha.
We (kind of sadly) left our apartment and squeezed into the tiny elevator again. Our flight to Morocco left out of Orly Airport which is on a different side of Paris from where we flew in. We took a special bus called "OrlyBus" to get us there. Yet again, we were helping people buy tickets from the machine. The bus ride was an easy 30 minutes and we got to the airport with plenty of time. Checking our bags was simple and we moved through security with ease.
The food situation on the flight and in Morocco was an unknown to us so we got a couple quiches in the airport. As usual with these budget airlines (we flew Royal Air Maroc Airlines), the boarding process was kind of a mess and we ended up sitting in the breezeway tunnel and on the plane while people boarded. The plane left about 30 minutes late but it was fine.
They served us a full meal on the 2.5-hour flight so that was nice! Decently flavored chicken, a bun, some chocolate mousse, and some weird crunchy sweet rice. After landing at the airport, we had to wait in line at passport check. This took FOREVER and Lacey and I both got a little testy. Inside the airport, we got some cash and changed into lighter clothes.
Right as we were about to start figuring out where to go, it started to absolutely downpour. Like torrential downpour. It appeared that everyone else from our flight had already left so we were kind of standing around. Eventually, I asked an official-looking guy about taxis and he got us one. There is very little public transport in Morocco, and literally no public transport to and from the airport (taxi only).
There are 3 main areas to Fes. There's the New Town which has more modern looking buildings and roads for cars, there's the Jewish Quarter which has absolutely tiny walkways and is residential, and there's the Medina which has slightly wider walkways and has lots of shops selling things (but no cars). The ride from the airport to the Medina opening (called the Blue Gate) is usually about 30 minutes. With the torrential downpour, flooded streets, crazy drivers, and occasional hail, this ride felt more like a lifetime haha. The driver did a great job being safe but man was it hair-raising at certain points.
We got to the Blue Gate and started our journey through the Medina. It's an assault on the eyes and ears the first time you enter. Lots of people trying to bring you into their restaurant or sell you on a tour or have you buy stuff. Plus the buildings are beautiful and the stuff they're selling looks cool. Once you get walking in a little further the pushiness tends to back off. Our hostel is about an 8-minute walk into the Medina and they gave us really good directions to find it. I was very nervous about getting lost in there but we had a pretty easy time finding it.
We're staying at a riad (an old house now used as a hotel or hostel) called Dar Jannat. The owner's name is Moussa and he is super nice. He helped us with our bags and served us mint tea with sugar. It was pretty good! Eventually, he showed us to our room which is on the 3rd floor and is pretty large. Unfortunately, it has a hard bed (just like in Asian). This place is only about $35 a night so can't really complain.
As usual, we rested for a bit and did some research on where to eat. We decided on a place called "Cafe Clock". Again, I was nervous about getting lost but Lacey was confident and led the way for a lot of it. The walk was only about 10 minutes and we got turned out a couple times but overall, it wasn't as bad as I thought. The cafe is also in a riad so there's a middle courtyard with each level open to the courtyard and looking down. As we walked in, some kind of music show was playing and it was crazy! Like we walked it and it was so loud and the host just kind of told everyone to walk up the stairs and find a place to sit. Eventually, the music stopped and the place calmed down but it was an unbelievable moment for a bit.
The wait staff in Morocco has more a "hands off" approach. They're not rude or anything but they get your order, deliver your food, and come back when you're done eating. Like that's it, no checking in. I ordered the camel burger (yes you read that right) and Lacey got a chicken stew type of dish. Her chicken was super flavorful with lots of spices and my camel burger was the bomb.
Going back to our hostel was very easy now that we knew the way. I finished a blog post and we both went to bed ready for another day!
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