Fes, Day 244: Crossing Gibraltar, Tangier → Chefchaouen → Fes

So I made it on one of the last ferries to the African continent that day, thrilled to have made it to my goal – to cross the same day. I got a ride to Tangier and the truck driver stayed and waited for my host an hour with me, even though he had a family and children waiting, long into the night. I ended up sending him home and waiting alone for my host, who had sad ‘3 minutes and then I’m there’ and again ’10 minutes’ and even so he came one and a half hour later then he shuld have. My stay with this host ended up being a bit absurd, like living with a Moroccan incarnation of Michael Cera from Crystal Fairy; he constantly told me white lies to improve his image or who knows what, he did weird ninja-like morning gymnastics in front of me when I woke up and also, woke me up in the middle of the night, telling me how he didn’t understand why I wanted to sleep and why I didn’t go out. And if I wanted to watch movies, also complaining he couldn’t buy cigarettes during Ramadan and that he was bored and had nothing to do. His house was filthy and we only ate the food that I bought, because his was aldready gone bad. But besides that he was actually trying his best and wanted me to have a good time I think.

During these two days I had talked with another couchsurfer about HH to Chefchaouen – the hash capital and old city of Morocco. So we did, it only took us around 3 hours. Chefchaouen is a charming little city with the whole medina painted blue, in the mountains with chilled out vibes. I really like the place and will come back one day.

Chefchaouen at night with a true Arabic moon and Venus and Jupiter above. Stunning!

After that, I went to Fes alone with a bus – note to travellers: DON’T go with local bus companies unless you speak good Arabic or French. I did the mistake of buying a cheaper ticket than the ones that the tourist company CTM offers, resulting in me having to change bus twice, the last bus wanting to charge me for another ticket even though I had already paid in the start of the journey, and the whole bus full ofangry men and little me fighting in Arabic over whether I should pay again or not. One guy ended up paying for me, because he was so angry at the busdriver charging me more apparently. So nice of him! Bus confusing sitting in the middle of a discussion in Arabic, with fasting and irritable men, not understanding anything.
I arrived 2 1/2 hours later than expected to Fes and it took me several hours to track down my host, Fatima, but I finally found her at her work place, the Ryad Mabrouka, which was like arriving in a 1000 and 1 night fairytale-paradise where Fatima prepared the most delicious food and mint tea for me, sitting in the garden by the pool and talking with the loveliest lady of all time. So much love.

More pics of Fes from the following days below.

Dear Fatima

Breaking the fast on night with Fatima 🙂 Time for breakfast!

Today I’m planning my trip to Marrakech where I will spend my last 4 days of my journey here in Morocco before I head back to France and Europe! Uh exciting!
Hopefully I have learned more than 5 french words by then haha. Let’s see how it goes!