Tuesday 9th July ( cont) After lunch we wandered through more alleyways- The Mausoleum of Sultan Abu Inan ( 1358) Madresse( school ) el Atterine, and Fondouk Nejjarine ( beautifully restored 18th century inn) Also went to a weaving outlet - gorgeous silk ( agave) scarves etc. and yes - bought a pashmina!!!! The Fes Medina el Bali is divided in to the Andalusian and the Karaouine sections - depending when they arrived in Fes. A fascinating place - though wouldn...

Tuesday 9th July. Busy day - first stop Royal Palace- knocked but no one home - ( not open to public) walk down a street - with Jewish quarter on one side - and Spanish ( Andalusian ( on the other. Shops selling huge variety of goods all along. Then up to a Tower for a view of the Medina Fes el Bali - it is huge. Checked out a ceramic factory - intricate hand process - beautiful work. Then in to the Medina - OMG - crazy place- donkeys, motor bikes, carts piled ...

Tuesday 8th July - midday we left Meknes and headed for Volubilis - a partly excavated city which the Romans built around 160 AD.though the site was a Berber stronghold around 3rd century BC. Romans abandoned city in 285AD- locals then occupied the city from then on. The Lisbon earthquake of mid 18th c caused the destruction of most of the buildings.Built on a high ground overlooking the Meknes plain ( olive trees everywhere) Archaeological finds have included...

Tuesday 8th July- we met our guide who took us thru the Meknes Medina - another labyrinth of laneways- as it was early not many traders were open. Showed us the spools of silk from agave plant for the long tunics worn in Morocco. We went to an area which Sultan Moulay Ismail ( 1645-1727) created his palace and also the water supply for the Medina. ( Bassin de l’Agdal) Apparently- so the story goes- he fathered more kids than anyone in history. 500 concubines!!...

Monday 7th July ( cont) - On the same site as the unfinished mosque is the Mausoleum of Mohammed v. A relatively new construction - quite beautiful - guarded by horsemen at both wall entrances - and traditionally uniformed guards at doors. It looks on to the unfinished mosque - Old and new. Next we walked through the Medina - all painted in the blue and white of the Mediterranean- and viewed the Bou Regreg River flowing in to the Atlantic- with thousands swimmin...