HUGEBLOGSITE

PIT STOP IN FEZ

—

by

Hfallon
in

So one day removed from a month in Spain, I look back with a lot of really great memories, having seen so many new places and things, eaten wonderful food and washed it down with exceptional wine, played some great golf courses, gained a new appreciation for e-bikes, and just really enjoyed being there.  The condo and its location were perfect for us……..a nice walk into town for the goats, easy access for me to the shore trail for riding, and views over the sea with sunshine all day long.  Jutta and I agree that we were just getting the hang of things when it was time to leave, but all that knowledge is stored for a return trip if that ever happens…….who knows.  My To-Do list at home has a new addition at the top……..you guessed it…….I don’t know if it will be a Villeroy & Boch, or a Toto 5000……..I don’t care, and I’m not allowed to talk about it in detail, but my backside just loved its stay here also.  Following the blog you already know my number one complaint was slow play on the golf courses, and that alone would be enough to sway me away from a return visit, understanding that our trips are golf heavy from the get go. 

 Our day in Fez starts perfectly with breakfast in the rooftop dining room, and we get our first look at the city in daylight. Truth be told we screwed up on the travel schedule a little so we only had last evening and this morning to check out Fez.

Medina walls in the distance
Times have changed, and larger homes in the Medina that used to house large families, and often the married children and their families, have fallen into disuse as the kids now want to have their own homes, and the buildings are just real old. Larroussa was one of those, and like so many others has been renovated and repurposed as a hotel…….only 8 rooms here but ab fab.
If only someone could play

Our guide Farina was born, and grew up in the medina, a few minutes walk away from our hotel, so she is a wealth of knowledge about everything, and knows her way around the 7,000 streets in the old city like the back of her hand. She explains much about the customs, culture, and history of life in the medina and draws our attention to places and things of interest as we walk through the narrow streets and alleys.  The goats just can’t help themselves walking amongst so many shops offering such a variety of goods.  Even I got caught up in it looking at a new leather shoulder bag, but it wasn’t right and it only took one word from Farina and the vendor stopped following me down the street trying to make the sale. She is really well known in the hood. This was such an interesting tour, and I don’t believe we stopped at one palace, or museum, or monument of any kind, but we have a new appreciation for day to day family life here in the medina and in Morocco in general.

Smaller door, smaller knocker for family…..larger door, larger knocker, different sound, for non-family and guests so those inside can properly prepare for them……covering for ladies, etc.…..no special knocker for Knocher
A community spring, no longer functioning, but was one of the required elements for a Medina…….others include a place to bathe, bake your bread, worship, etc.
One of the oldest universities in the world
I gave this one some serious thought
Camel head soup????
Never a shortage of olives
Hmmmmm….platform slippers

Our plan to meet Omar at one of the gates into the old city works perfectly as Farina walks us right to the meeting spot. Omar has picked up our luggage from the hotel porter, and in minutes we are on our way to Ifrane, up in the mid Atlas Moutains about an hour away. We think Fez will get a return visit……..great city.

 

A little farewell tea and coffee with Farina…..she was great

Ifrane is known for its alpine-style architecture and nickname, the “Switzerland of Morocco”…….very European looking, and distinctive red/orange coloured rooftops all over town. We are staying at the Michlifen Hotel & Golf Resort in town, but the course, a Nicklaus Signature Design, is actually 13km away across and outside of town.  The weather is absolute crap…..maybe 5 degrees, pissing rain……no golf today, and likely none tomorrow based on the forecast. Cosgroves have settled in, and report they got in late last night and just did room service for dinner.   The hotel is pretty cool. Originally opened in the 70’s, it closed down 15 years ago and underwent a complete refurbishment that took 5 years to complete. They added in a huge spa facility and built a sports complex that can be used by the public, not just for guests.

 

I forgot the stairs…..almost killed me
And the wool textile area where the big dye job was on
At one point it turned into Yorkdale
I was in the pool……I was in the pool
Muskoka meets Morocco…….solid steel furniture everywhere

There is a royal palace here in town, so tons of security everywhere…… not sure if the king is in town, but pretty clear someone important is. There are plain clothes secret service type dudes all over the hotel with ear pieces in and talking to their watches. The King of Quatar also has a palace just outside of town. Very popular spot with the royals. 

Al Akhawayn University is located here and is a public, not-for-profit, coeducational university, and was founded in 1993 and opened in 1995, with a mission to educate future leaders through a globally-oriented, English-language liberal arts curriculum based on the American system.  Very well known school…….and don’t forget Ifrane National Park……holy crap, so lots to do here in Ifrane, but we are just looking forward to the golf. 

We opt for one of the two restaurants here in the hotel for dinner and it is underwhelming at best.  Jutta and I return to our “Deluxe” room, and decide that we will try to change it tomorrow…….Sibylle received an upgrade to a junior suite, and we figured, “Why not us as well”…….we will get that happening in the morning.  Although nice and well appointed, only one of us can be walking around the room at any given moment, so we need some more floor space. 

Comments

Leave a comment