Fes, Morocco

Day 8/9: October 27-28, 2024

Day Nine, the clock reads 0645 AM. Forty-eight degrees Fahrenheit, a frigid start to the day. Last night, our first in the tent, was a chilly affair. But we all survived. Should I even bother with a shower, or just wait until the sun deigns to warm my frozen bones?

Yesterday, we met the misfits who'll be my traveling companions for the next year. Quite the eclectic bunch, I must say! We have a nurse, a cardiologist, a physiotherapist, and a bunch of folks who’ve spent their lives in front of screens, trading stocks, auditing numbers, or drilling for oil. And here I am, the former advertising executive and software salesman. Some of us have sacrificed everything to be here. Others, not so much. But one thing’s for sure: we all share a love of travel, a thirst for adventure. And that, my friend, is the only qualification that truly matters.

We ventured into the labyrinthine city of Fez today. The tanneries, a putrid symphony of decay and industry, assaulted our nostrils first. We witnessed the arduous process of Argan oil production, a testament to human patience and the land’s bounty. We also dove into the world of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, watching skilled artisans meticulously piece together intricate mosaics and ceramics. And, of course, we indulged in a bit of retail therapy, acquiring silk blankets for our tents and pashmina scarves for a touch of “desert chic” and modesty.

The medina of Fez, the largest we have come across, a place where the echoes of centuries past still linger from the 12th century. Its narrow, winding alleyways, barely wide enough for a donkey cart, transport you to another era. The air is thick with the scent of spices, leather, and something a bit more... primal. You feel like a rat scurrying through a sewer.

I stumbled upon a butcher's shop, a macabre tableau of severed camel heads and hooves. A stark reminder of the city's ancient traditions and the harsh realities of life. It was a sight that both fascinated and repulsed me, a glimpse into a world both familiar and utterly foreign…