Fez, 16 June 2024

Kind of a short one as jet lag has gotten its claws into my brain. We got up this morning at 4am local after never really sleeping at night (more like a set of naps), got to the airport, dealt with budget airline crapola, and eventually got to Morocco and our lovely hotel.

Protip / good move: we were in the front of the plane and didn't have a checked bag. We ripped through passport and customs since we were the first people there.

Post arrival, lunch, naps, and a walk in the medina. It's a bummer that it is hard to walk around without people offering unsolicited advice, but there we are. Like: I really like exploring alleys and random walking across a town. Google maps and a general understanding of where I am can be relied upon to get me back, plus maps is just fine in navigating the medina anyway (if you're willing to always have a phone out).

Either way, we made it to a fountain and back. Still in use as a public water supply. Someday soon I'll reflect upon and write about the complexity in navigating between trying to turn down impromptu guides or redirects to a store they want me to go in, and turning down honest advice from locals who don't want to see me get lost.

Tomorrow is Eid al Adha, which is a big Islamic holiday. The key thing to know about this holiday is that it's traditional to slaughter a lamb (it's symbolic) and roast it (with family and friends and have a big feast). So there's a lot of sheep in the city. And a lot of people offering knife sharpening services out on the street.

File under: things I should have thought about a little more before planning travel, being in a majority Muslim country during this holiday is somewhat like a tourist visiting America during Thanksgiving or Christmas. A lot of stuff is closed, and the places that are open probably are staffed by people who would rather be with their families.