To Fez via Roman ruins of Volubilis

No rush to get up today as we weren't leaving until 11. We had to get something for lunch so wandered down to a less touristy area and found fruit and veg shops and cheese , olives, tomatoes, bread and fruit, a feast.

Heading to Fez via Volubilis the remains of an ancient Roman town where we had a guide to take us round. We stopped for lunch at a place with a cafe and facilities and tables for picnicking. Our food went down well and we had a good chat in the shade near a swimming pool.

Voubilis was a huge are of stones and pillars around a central square and what had been big houses and official buildings. There was a beautiful archway with Roman writing across the top and we could see where roads and the water works ran through the town. There were three mosaics that were on amazing condition, made from stone of different colours, so the colours can still be seen, especially when they were wet.
The guide was a charming man, very weathered and worn with a cheeky mischievous face. He spoke slowly and clearly so was easier to follow.

It was another hour and half before we reached Fez.
The scenery we had driven through had changed dramatically throughout the long journey. From rough barren looking areas with only olive trees growing to huge expanses of very fertile land which had been harvested and now looked bare. The earth changed from grey to yellow to green and the landscape became increasingly rolling and eventually quite mountainous.
Through much of this we saw single donkeys tethered out in the open with no shade,seemingly a long way from anywhere. Herds of few sheep, goats and cattle with a shepherd resting in the shade, became more common throughout the journey.
The road was very straight in parts, very Roman! And very up and down and round this way and that. The driver was very cautious and responded to the bumps and dimples in the road with attention although at one point he was driving so slowly I thought he was falling asleep!

We arrived at our hotel about 6.50 and had to be out again at 7.30. We went to a traditional Moroccan meal at a family run grand house. It was a set menu of vegetable salads and bread followed by a filo chicken pie with cinnamon and icing sugar. It was ok, but rather dry and too sweet. We were all happy when they brought out a huge bowl of fruit afterwards.

Tomorrow we are exploring Fez with a guide.Read more