Tangiers, Fes

Since I last posted I feel that I ahve been half way around the world in a bus with 40 people.  Yesterday we caught the ferry from Spain to Tangier.  On the way to the ferry The Rock of Gibralter was appearing from the morning cloud.  It is joined to Spain by a narrow isthmus.  Underneath the rock is now honeycombed with about 25 tunnels from side to side our tour director says.  The place we caught the ferry from was exceedingly windy.  After disembarking from the bus, immigration wanted to see the passport many times and then the Moroccan people wanted to see it and gave a police number for me for my time here.
Tangier was just as windy.  Again customs, security and police checking before embarking on the coach again.  The ferry is made by an Aussie firm and reminds me of the ones that cross from Tasmania to Melbourne.
Then the real day began.  We went back in time two hours for a start making our time difference from Brisbane now about 10 hours.  The bus started for Fes along what I thought was going to be a highway, but no it was the scenic route so that we could see the 'breadbasket' of Morocco.  Plenty of farms with fruit, veges and olives growing everywhere.  Quite pretty scenery but unfortunately after about 500 km it fails to stimulate the imagination any more.  I did have plenty of Granny naps.  We arrived at the Royal Mirage in time to tidy up and go out to dinner and a belly dancing show.   It was quite exotic.  The best part of the evening was the building and its interior.  I think I might have seen enough belly dancing for a while.

On the dock at Tangier waiting for customs, security etc

In the Medina, donkeys have right of way.

Camel head for sale at the butchers, low cholesterol we were told.

Mosaic tiles in huge amounts on the palace gate wall

Today we continued on in Fes with a trip to the Medina and Sooks.  The Medina is the old part of Fes and the streets are narrow alleyways (about 1200 in all).  We had to stick to our guide like glue because if we became lost we may never have seen the light of day again.  We went to the leather shop and factory - ponged a bit.  We also went to a carpet shop where I was very restrained. Animals have right of way so when a loaded mule or donkey came along you had to splay yourself against the wall to avoid trampling.  Every now and then the cry of "Donkey doo" went up and so you watched where you put your feet.  Step" or "Hole" were the other cries of warning included  Tonight is dinner at the hotel. 
We have been warned to only drink bottled water, don't open your mouth while showering and use bottled water to brush your teeth with.  The other warning was to only eat fruit which could be peeled and don't eat fresh vegies.  In this way the Morrocan belly wog may be just avoided.