Rabat and Fez

Rabat, the capitol of Morocco, lies along the Atlantic Ocean and is a more modern city than some in the interior of the country. The ultra modern Zaha Hadid designed theatre looks like a cobra raising its head from the sand, and the in-progress Mohammed VI tower, at about 750 feet, will be one of the tallest multi-use buildings in all of Africa.

Things We’ve Observed in Morocco:

As we drive through the small towns in rural Morocco, there are people everywhere along the roads and highways. Many travel on foot, but others are on bicycles, scooters, or on carts drawn by donkeys. I can’t believe there aren’t more accidents.
Car parking guys: Every time one parks a vehicle, whether it’s in a private or public lot or on the street, there’s a guy who comes out of nowhere and will help you get in or out of a space, and watch over the car while you’re gone. Of course a small fee is involved.
Morocco is a great meld of French, Spanish, Jewish and Arabic culture and language. Arabic is the main language here, but French is second and after that its Berber. I’m happy because I get to practice my rusty French!
Because Morocco is influenced so much by Europe, and is a close ally with the US, most stores and services readily accept Euros and American dollars along with their own currency, the Dirham. We’ve had a lot fun and confusion working with the three currencies.
Prices of goods: Morocco is very reasonable in the cost of living. Meals and products are generally lower than you would find in the US, or even compared to Spain.
Cash is king: While some shops will accept credit cards, most would rather have cash. ATMs are widely available and safe, so its easy to get money. The problem is that it is difficult to get small change for things like tips and small purchases. We went to a Roman Ruins park and were required to have exact change to enter (and the bathroom attendants wanted a tip too!).

Fez

Fez has one of the largest medinas in Morocco. We stayed at a beautiful restored riad in the heart of the old city. The medina is so tight and congested that we had a 15 minute walk from where our guide dropped us off to get to our riad. We were very happy that the riad caretaker helped us with our luggage and guided us through the maze of streets every time we came or went. Fez is know for its artisans, with specialties in leather, ceramics and jewelry.