No Cars Here

Yesterday after an amazing week in Spain, we landed in Fez, the Imperial City of Morocco. Two years ago we had planned to come to Marrakech, but then our trip was derailed due to the pandemic, so we finally decided to give Morocco a shot again. Given our timing, we would only do one big city and had to decide which to visit. Although our original plans were for Marrakech, more and more reviews kept encouraging travelers to go to Fez when choosing between the two cities. The airport is very small; we walked right off the plane and into the arrivals hall for passport control. Upon getting our stamps, we picked up our luggage (there were only two carousels) and made our way outside where a driver was holding a sign with my name on it (spelled wrong, of course). As we stepped outside, we felt the immense heat, and according to the weather app, this day was cool and only 99 degrees. It seems that using AC in the car, even when it is this hot, isn't a thing and so we drove to the Medina, with windows down, hot air blowing in our face. By the time, we arrived, O was as red as a tomato. The Medina in Fez, founded in the 9th century is the largest urban car free zone. Two men came with a big donkey cart and put our luggage on the cart and asked us to follow them to our Riad (lodging). The alleyways of Fez are similar to those in Jerusalem, but much more confusing. The one thing I had read was that Fez is much less touristy than Marrakech, and indeed this is true.