The group arrived in Fes and Hassan dropped us at the Hotel Batha, Place Istiqlal (e-mail: hotelbatha@menara.ma), in the Fes-El-Bali section which is located in the center of old Fes. Good and free WI-FI and the hotel building was once used not only as the British Embassy but also to accommodate Winston Churchill during the Second World War. Quite a history if this really is the same Hotel Batha we stayed at. Once again, there were probably “Lost in Translation” difficulties. I read quite a few derogatory comments on other sites about this hotel but we had no problems and the staff was quick to show me the way to the Hotel Bar for a strong WI-FI connection. Stay and make up your own mind. The Post Office was a few steps away, a place that did laundry across the street, petit taxis in the center of the square and the Medina two blocks away. What more do you want?

The group made arrangements to eat dinner together, but ex-Marine and I are usually tired after a long day sightseeing, and ready to just eat and hit the sack instead of waiting until 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. to meet. Do you have any idea how long it takes a group of 20 to order and be served? F-O-R-E-V-E-R… Instead, we threw suitcases in the room, checked there were towels, toilet paper, the lights worked properly and went to get a sandwich. Aziz recommended the Restaurant Kasbah facing the Bab Boujiloud Gate only a short two-block walk from the hotel.

Forget about eating at Restaurant La Kasbah. The sandwich was mediocre but it did have location, location, location. Two floors including a rooftop terrace with tables and fantastic views over Fes…View image. It wasn’t until later that we found out that the Bab Boujiloud Gate was at the opposite end of the Medina/Souk that we’d visit tomorrow and that the Gate had green mosaics on one side and blue on the other. These facts came to light only because we questioned Aziz after we noticed large groups of tourists standing in front of Bab Boujiloud taking photos while we ate.

Even at this far end of the Fes Medina/Souk, the streets were filled with local restaurants, souvenirs, stores and sweet shops. The biscuits/cookies/tarts looked wonderful and I wished there was a knowledgeable person to tell me what was in each one. Buying would have been guesswork. Possibly, tasty guesswork.

Fes is considered the most exciting of the Imperial Cities but, unfortunately, there was one day filled with tours to see everything that Fes had to offer. Mosques, the Mellah (old Jewish quarter), Souks of Fes el Bali, the Royal Palace, panoramic views, craftwork shops, and don’t forget the famous tanneries…whew… Let’s go…

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