Melting in Morocco Part 2 – Madness in the Medina and some pretty impressive Romans

Yes it’s still hot…😎 After visiting Rabat we traveled to the thriving metropolis of Fes. More on this later. On the way we stopped at Volubilis – a UNESCO world heritage site of an ancient Roman city dating back to the 3rd century BC – to see some pretty impressive ruins and mosaics. The site is currently being excavated and being restored. The Romans really were a clever lot with their designs of both their cities and their houses. They built olive presses to make olive oil. They had aqueducts through the city for water to houses and public baths. They even built jacuzzis with seats that followed the path of the sun. And they built to last. Such talent!

The houses were found with their mosaics intact – some very interesting depictions of gods, and life. Romans loved their dogs so much they immortalised them in mosaics! I must have been a roman in a past life…

The site of the whorehouse was quite clear! And it was joined to the city library by underground tunnel. ‘Honey, I’m of to the library for the afternoon…’ Hmmm…. (An ancient ‘dick pic’!) It was the hottest day we’ve had on the trip so far, outside it would have been close to 50 degrees and no shade. Luckily there was an airconditioned museum on site where we went to cool off admire the artefacts that were excavated from the site. Back in the bus and off to Fes. Ahhh the madness of the medina. In spite of many warnings from home I didn’t get lost in the labyrinth of the medina, thanks to our guide. It was a rabbit warren of alley ways and souks and homes. Mostly now inhabited by poorer citizens, there are parts of the medina that are being restored and turned into hotels to cater for the growing tourist market.

There were the usual tourist stops. A leather tannery where the smell was so bad that they gave you a bunch of mint to hold to your nose as you walked through. Lots of nice bags and other leather goods. May have done some shopping to support the local industry. Really, it was the least I could do. Lots of yelling at one point – Yalla Yalla – Get out of the way! and we squashed to the side to let these pass…