A visit to Ifrane in Morocco
Buildings in Ifrane in Morocco
On our tour of Morocco we spent a few days in the Sefrou area and then moved on to Midelt in the east of the country. On the way we drove through a part of the Atlas Mountains. We stopped for a morning tea break in the town of Ifrane as shown in today’s photos.
I would guess that most Australians would think that Morocco is a hot country with sand, deserts and a generally bleak environment, complete with camels and little else. Few would realise that this part of the country has a thriving snow skiing industry. The beautiful town of Ifrane is in the centre of one such skiing location. The style of the buildings in this village would not be out of place in the Alps of Switzerland.
Although the day was sunny, the air was still very cool. Our guide explained that up to the point of our visit the snow falls had been extremely poor, compared with most years. Although there was some snow cover on the mountain peaks, most was still unsuitable for skiing.
Ifrane in Morocco
Houses in Ifrane in Morocco
Streets of Ifrane in Morocco
Market day in Sefrou, Morocco
Market day in the village of Sefrou, Morocco
One aspect of travelling in Morocco that I looked forward to was the food. I believe that sampling the food delights of a different country, and especially a totally different culture like Morocco, is high up on my list of reasons for travelling. Mind you, I am generally very conservative in my selection of food when not travelling, whether that is at home or eating out in a local restaurant. On our touring I think I surprised myself in what I sometimes selected to eat; I know I really surprised my wife and daughter. I was often quite the adventurous one, and now I have some wonderful memories, not to mention a desire to travel the more exotic destinations.
While we were staying in Fes we took a day trip to the village of Sefrou some 30km away. Added to the delight of our visit was the fact that it was market day. Farmers from around the district descended on the town with their produce. They set up their stalls everywhere in the streets. Over the next few days I will share some of the photos taken at the market. The fruit and vegetables on display were not only colourful – they looked delicious.
And they tasted great too – we bought some bananas and mandarins.
Market day in the village of Sefrou, Morocco
Market day in the village of Sefrou, Morocco
Tuning in, Fes, Morocco
Rooftops in Fes, Morocco
While we were exploring the delights of the city of Fes in Morocco we had a view from a shop overlooking the rooftops nearby. I was amazed at the number of satellite dishes sitting on the rooftops. It’s not a sight we see here in Australia, but I found it relatively common in Morocco.
Just one of those quirky little differences I found on our journeys.
Exploring the city of Fes in Morocco
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
One of the places we visited during our stay in the city of Fes in Morocco was this building shown in today’s photos. I didn’t keep notes at the time, but I think it was an Islamic religious school. There were no students there at the time. If my memory is correct this was built many centuries ago and is now just on display for visitors, something of a museum. Whatever it is I found that the calm interior of the building an amazing contrast with the hustle and bustle of life in the medina or the street outside.
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
Religious school in Fes, Morocco
Dining in style in Fes, Morocco
Beautiful restaurant in Fes, Morocco
On one of the days during our visit to Fes, Morocco, we had a delightful lunch in this magnificent restaurant. As stunning as it was, the most astonishing thing about it was the nondescript sign and entrance in the street outside (see photo below).
The lane outside was very plain with all the usual stalls, small shops and the always milling crowds and noise. The only indication of the restaurant’s presence was this simple sign (below). On moving through the door the restaurant opens up like an Aladdin’s magical cave, revealing a spacious, beautifully maintained and with an exotic decor in keeping with the local culture. Amazing.
The part of restaurant where we ate is seen though the doorway at the far end of the room. It was shrouded in luxurious looking carpets, drapes hung from the ceiling and low level lighting gave a truly exotic feel to the experience. And when we sat down we sank into deep, soft cushions.
As a bonus the food was wonderful. It’s just that we had so many great meals in Morocco I’ve completely forgotten what I ate that day. I didn’t even take a photo of the dish I had.
Restaurant in Fes, Morocco
Decorations inside a beautiful restaurant in Fes, Morocco