Flying Solo

Saturday-Sunday, January 24-25, 2026 -- Fez to Agadir

Hi all! This morning I experienced Fez on my own. Poor Dean ate a bum dinner last night in Marrakech and got food poisoning. He was pretty miserable, but suffered quietly…except when he was throwing up. No fun. So, after my breakfast, I bundled up, donned my raincoat (thanks, Jane!), and made my way to the Museo Nejjarine. Navigating my way through the Medina was tricky, but me and Google Maps got there. 

The Fez Medina 

Woodworking Museum

The museum was a testament to the woodworkers and their crafts. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take pictures of the displays, but the building itself was pretty. The first floor consisted of the trunks of various trees showing the wood that was used, where it could be found in Morocco, and how long it lived. The other two floors showcased tools, chests, doors, chairs, stairs, toys, and even tablets that were used to help memorize the Koran. It was also a good way for me to read the French signs and see how much I understood. The schooling in Nice is going to be grand - I’ve got a ways to go.

Cats, cats everywhere 

Making sure I had my raincoat on again, I left the museum and meandered through more alleys and saw different parts of the Medina - yes, on purpose! At one point, I even saw some blue sky. 

Blue sky sighting

Returning to the Riad Said, I was happy to hear that Dean was feeling better, but he thought it best if I went to lunch without him. So, with Omar’s recommendation (the hotel manager), I was off looking for the restaurant 212 Pezaria. It wasn’t far, and I made it with no trouble but had to laugh when I saw the sign for 212 Pizzaria. Ohh!  I sat at the one inside table and ordered a falafel wrap from the lovely waitress. As I waited for my order to be prepared, singing along to American Pie (as was the young waitress though I’m sure the song is twice as old as she is!) she was untangling some yarn and wrapping it around her hand. I asked her what she was making, and she showed me some cute crocheted booties/socks. Riham said she likes to be able to use her hands and knows that the phone isn’t the best thing for her. She reminded me of Kylie, not in appearance but in the way she enjoys creating things. It was a lovely human connection, and I appreciated getting to meet her.

Meg and Riham

After returning from lunch, I was happy to see Dean dressed and ready to get out of the room. Together, we headed back to the Medina in search of the Fez tanneries. What a difference from the Marrakech vats! These were actually open and seemed as if there were hides being worked. Fortunately, we didn’t fall for any ‘tour’ and were able to look, take pictures, and leave. 

Fez tanning pits

We also came across Seffarine Square where copper artisans have been hammering and shining their wares for centuries. I told Dean that all the copper pots and dishes made me think of Beauty and the Beast. It smacked of a French provincial setting, which makes sense, as the French were here as well. It was fun to hear hammering and clanking as we sipped on our mint tea and coffee. 

Copperware of Seffarine Square

We decided to check out a viewpoint that Fatima had mentioned during our cooking class. We exited the walled city and walked up and up and up, only to find that our final destination was blocked off. We took pictures where we were, admiring the shepherd and his flock. There was a reprieve in the rain, enough so that we got to see a rainbow, but as we walked home, the rain came down. It was over dinner that we decided to head to Agadir, a town in southern Morocco, on the coast, where it was forecast to be sunny and a little warmer.

View of the Medina (grazing sheep in lower left)

I’m typing this on the train from Fez to Marrakech, where we are hoping to catch a “Grand Taxi” which will take us to Agadir tonight. Petit taxis only stay within the city limits. We’ve met a cute young couple from Madison, Wisconsin, who have been in Morocco for 5 weeks. They have enjoyed extended stays in various places around the world. John is a non-critical medical transporter, and Megan is a dental hygienist. They like to work hard in the States and then travel to various places and stay for more than two weeks. They seem to have a few things figured out! 

John and Meg

Of course, we couldn’t help but talk about the current unbelievable situation happening in Minnesota. At the time I’m writing this, Alex Pretti’s blood is running fresh in the streets. As far as I’m concerned, this is the second Minnesotan/American who has been murdered by Trump’s mobsters. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were never challenging these thugs. This madness has got to stop, and it is on the Republican Party to stop cow-towing to Trump, Miller, Noem and anyone else who is attempting to thwart true democracy.