Fes

From Marseilles, Morocco is only 2 hours by air. To arrive in such a different culture- north Africa, is the just the best experience. The sounds, the heat, the smells.... a step back in time to a place that has not changed in centuries. I practiced Arabic phrases on the driver of the ancient faded beige Mercedes which wait en mass outside the airport in Fes or Fez. We were dropped at the 'Bab R'cif' one of the entries to the alleys of the medina- the Old City, where a fellow was waiting with a cart to take our luggage the 15 minute walk around narrow cobbled alleys to deposit us at the riad we stayed at for 6 days- Riad Le Calife. Alexandre, a Frenchman and his lovely Moroccan wife Yasmine were waiting for us with cold drinks in the cool and groovy bar where, over strains of jazz, he told us fabulous life stories with the genuine warmth and hospitality that is revered in the Islamic culture.
Way to go.