You two are the PERFECT travel channel because you’re real, down to earth, and positive spirited which means you give balanced thoughts on places you go. Some people romanize places too much. Some people are negative tenderfoots who get bent out of shape at the smallest things. You two are perfect and real. Great channel!!!! ☺️
Thanks so much for watching! While we typically prefer large, busy cities, we appreciated most of the Medina here being mostly car/motorbike free. It's a pretty cool place. We arrived through our Sahara Desert tour which originated in Marrakech. We highly recommend it if you visit! -Judy 🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Hey! Thanks so much for watching! We're delighted to celebrate your restaurant and spotlight you a little bit! You truly helped us to have a wonderful experience in Fes! ♥️ -Judy
Another great video! I watch at least ten different retirement travel channels, and yours is now officially my favourite. Hope to be beginning our own journey in July 2025.
Oh wow, we are blown away with your kind words, Steve. Thank you so much! We wish you all the best of luck in making that a reality! If you have questions for us, we'd love to try to answer them for you. We know this lifestyle isn't for everyone, but we are having the time of our lives and want others to have the same joy. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
My wife and I experienced Marrakech and Fez on a 2022 tour. Both were very worthwhile, but I actually preferred Marrakech, probably because we had more free time there and experienced modern parts of the city as well as the famous ancient sights. Our riad in Fez, however, was a true highlight of our trip.
We agree that there is more to see in Marrakech. What we've found is that the people tend to draw us to a place as much as anything else, and we encountered some of the friendliest people in Fes. It's probably why we enjoyed Cambodia so much, too. What riad did you have in Fes? We lucked out with ours as well. We don't need a pool, which is common in many of them, but we really appreciated the breakfasts, which were tasty, gave us a break from tagine, and also saved us money. Score! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. We hope it brought back some of your fond memories! -Judy
Great info. Morocco will be one of my first stops in March after I finish my South and Central America travels I’m currently doing. Also, if I may make a request, when you put text on the screen, can you do it without blurring the background, it messes with focusing (just my .02 for what it’s worth). Thanks guys!
Hi @dotted8- •, Thanks so much for watching! We are glad to hear that this episode was helpful. We are currently traveling within South and Central America until mid March.We're in Buenos Aires right now! The title cards we use are to give a little bit of interest to the background but primarily to be able to read the cards. We could put a blank screen behind our prices, etc., but we'd like to think that catching a glimpse of what we're writing about is generally a good mix versus a plain, boring background. It's a deliberate technique, so I'm not sure if it's something we'll change, but it's helpful to hear that it's a distraction. Thanks so much for watching and for letting us know. I think you've commented on our entire series from Morocco, but since you're visiting, I'll link it below in case you missed any of them. -Judy 🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Thank you for the great tips on Fez and Mekness. I'm a moroccan living in Dallas and never visited those two cities, but thanks to your video I will definitely visit.
Thank you so much for watching and for sharing this comment! We lived in North Houston for nearly 30 years before moving to San Francisco. Small world. You might appreciate the rest of our series from Morocco, which I've linked below. -Judy 🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Loved your blog!! Lots of useful practical information. We are visiting Morocco during coming Thanksgiving Holidays from San Jose, CA. One curious question: How difficult is it to get a petit taxi and negotiate cost of the ride, since I believe they don't run on meter. Can we visit the Fez medina on our own without a guide?
Hi @subhrajyotibhar5993, You'll want to catch our Do's and Don'ts episode from our series where we talk a lot about these questions and more. I'll link the series below, which also includes episodes from Marrakech and our tour of the Sahara Desert. It is super easy to get a petit taxi in Fes. They are everywhere in the square outside the Blue Gate. It was fairly easy to negotiate a price. I showed the driver the address on my phone. In my situation another driver offered to help because the driver I approached was waiting for someone already. The person helping quoted 50 dirhams and took me around the corner to his vehicle, but he was more of a "limo" driver with a van. It actually was legit, and I accepted the price. (Here's his contact info if you need it. You can text using WhatsApp; typically he will only need 30 minutes' notice-classiclinestour.com/contact.php). On the return, I caught a petit cab on the side of the road and was quoted only 20 dirhams for the exact same return trip. I was caught a little off guard when the driver stopped and allowed three separate groups to get in and out along the route (each group paid). Overall it was a very straightforward process. And absolutely you can visit the Fes medina on your own without a guide. Stick to the main drags while you're getting your feet wet. We navigated best using Google Maps, so make sure you have it downloaded if you don't typically use it. You can book a walking tour, but be prepared that those tours will involve going to various souks and there will be a little pressure to buy something. Your guide should pick up the cost of the visit, except for at the Tannery, where they might need you to leave a few tips. (I was quoted 150 dirhams for it), but our guide was running an hour late and I didn't have a good feeling about going on the tour or recommending them after that.) -Judy 🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Lol we have Linner too!😅 You mentioned that you both got sick, how often do you get sick these days? You must have built up pretty good immune systems by now, with all the exotic places you’ve been to.
Hi Dan! You know, I've come to the conclusion that I don't have the best gut biome. I've had stomach issues in the last few countries we've visited, and since Kevin has been eating the same things as me, I don't have a great explanation for it. But it sucks. I probably should check out some probiotics to see if they'd help, Kevin has a chronic issue of diverticulosis, which sometimes flares up. And there are a lot of germs floating around when we're in airplanes so we are mindful of that and can get a little rundown when we arrive somewhere. Kevi has been dealing with a bit of that here in Argentina. None of it is too much of an issue, but it can be a killjoy when we miss out on activities we want to do. And we are delighted to hear that you have linner, too! -Judy
@ my favourite thing for gut health is cabbage. It helps being of Central European heritage, sauerkraut or red cabbage is a staple of so many of our meals. It’s natures secret probiotic.
@@danbulowski7013 Ah yes, good old sauerkraut! I do actually really enjoy it and forgot about it. I'm eating yogurt, but I have some dairy sensitivities, so that's a good alternative. We didn't really shop for groceries in Morocco, but I'm sure we can find it here in Argentina. Thanks for the suggestion. Fortunately, I haven't really been bothered here, but you never know! -Judy
Fez has a lot to share. Maybe you missed some beautiful places, but the most important thing for me is that you enjoyed it. Fez needs a local guide with you because its mystery lies in its alleyways. It has stood for 1215 years, preserving its original character. Fez is the city of 400 handicrafts, all made by hand. People may know about the tannery, but there is much more to discover. Anyway, welcome again and again! Here’s a small piece of information: without the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, you might never have known about the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4... Europe used Roman numerals until Pope Sylvester II came to Fez, discovered these new numbers, and helped spread them across Europe and the world.
@ExploreTayo: We really think staying *inside* the medina is going to be so much better. It really isn't hard to get around and choosing to stay in the New City puts you away from the entire point of visiting Fes, which is such an interesting, authentic city. Thanks for watching and we hope you have a great trip. Here is our full series from Morocco in case you missed any episodes. We'd love to know what you think of it when you return home. -Judy 🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Comme la synagogue et la mosquée l'accès n.est pas permis parce que c est un lieu de prière uniquement pour les croyants ça a toujours été comme ça par contre la grande mosquée hassan 2 est accessible à tout le monde pour le tourisme et c est la plus grande mosquée en Afrique c.est un vrai monument historique que je vous conseille de visiter
@UnidentifiedFlyingObject-d8w We completely understand the reasoning. We actually were able to visit the historic Al-Hussein Mosque when we were in Cairo in 2023 and were able to sit down with a Muslim guide to answer many of our questions. It was a fascinating experience! Thanks so much for watching and for your insights and suggestion. -Judy
In my case, Western Union waived the fee and the conversion rate was comparable to Chase withdrawals at an ATM. Plus, I needed a lot more money than I could withdraw from any Fes ATM. What would you suggest as an alternative to Western Union or ATMs? - Kevin
You two are the PERFECT travel channel because you’re real, down to earth, and positive spirited which means you give balanced thoughts on places you go. Some people romanize places too much. Some people are negative tenderfoots who get bent out of shape at the smallest things. You two are perfect and real. Great channel!!!! ☺️
Sounds and looks so wonderful! ♥ You've learned so much about this culture! ♥
Thank you so much, Enrique! It really was! -Judy
Loved the video. Fez looks amazing. Perhaps visiting there in 2025. JP Porto
Thanks so much for watching! While we typically prefer large, busy cities, we appreciated most of the Medina here being mostly car/motorbike free. It's a pretty cool place. We arrived through our Sahara Desert tour which originated in Marrakech. We highly recommend it if you visit! -Judy
🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
@ Obrigado Judy. (Thank you in Portuguese)
Heeey was amazing to have you in Fez and friends I'm Yassine tyy for coming by good luck for you! You're the best!!
Hey! Thanks so much for watching! We're delighted to celebrate your restaurant and spotlight you a little bit! You truly helped us to have a wonderful experience in Fes! ♥️ -Judy
Inspired
Hi Marius! It's always nice to hear from you! Fes is indeed a very impressive city. We are so glad we made time to visit! Thanks for watching! -Judy
Another great video! I watch at least ten different retirement travel channels, and yours is now officially my favourite. Hope to be beginning our own journey in July 2025.
Oh wow, we are blown away with your kind words, Steve. Thank you so much! We wish you all the best of luck in making that a reality! If you have questions for us, we'd love to try to answer them for you. We know this lifestyle isn't for everyone, but we are having the time of our lives and want others to have the same joy. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
It looks like some fascinating places to visit. And how nice that you got to experience a home cooked meal from your generous hosts!
My wife and I experienced Marrakech and Fez on a 2022 tour. Both were very worthwhile, but I actually preferred Marrakech, probably because we had more free time there and experienced modern parts of the city as well as the famous ancient sights. Our riad in Fez, however, was a true highlight of our trip.
We agree that there is more to see in Marrakech. What we've found is that the people tend to draw us to a place as much as anything else, and we encountered some of the friendliest people in Fes. It's probably why we enjoyed Cambodia so much, too. What riad did you have in Fes? We lucked out with ours as well. We don't need a pool, which is common in many of them, but we really appreciated the breakfasts, which were tasty, gave us a break from tagine, and also saved us money. Score! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. We hope it brought back some of your fond memories! -Judy
Great info. Morocco will be one of my first stops in March after I finish my South and Central America travels I’m currently doing. Also, if I may make a request, when you put text on the screen, can you do it without blurring the background, it messes with focusing (just my .02 for what it’s worth). Thanks guys!
Hi @dotted8- •, Thanks so much for watching! We are glad to hear that this episode was helpful. We are currently traveling within South and Central America until mid March.We're in Buenos Aires right now! The title cards we use are to give a little bit of interest to the background but primarily to be able to read the cards. We could put a blank screen behind our prices, etc., but we'd like to think that catching a glimpse of what we're writing about is generally a good mix versus a plain, boring background. It's a deliberate technique, so I'm not sure if it's something we'll change, but it's helpful to hear that it's a distraction. Thanks so much for watching and for letting us know. I think you've commented on our entire series from Morocco, but since you're visiting, I'll link it below in case you missed any of them. -Judy
🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Thank you for the great tips on Fez and Mekness. I'm a moroccan living in Dallas and never visited those two cities, but thanks to your video I will definitely visit.
Thank you so much for watching and for sharing this comment! We lived in North Houston for nearly 30 years before moving to San Francisco. Small world. You might appreciate the rest of our series from Morocco, which I've linked below. -Judy
🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
19:07 There’s an amazing Lebanese place in Portland Oregon that serves hummus hot. It is TRULY magical.
Loved your blog!! Lots of useful practical information. We are visiting Morocco during coming Thanksgiving Holidays from San Jose, CA. One curious question: How difficult is it to get a petit taxi and negotiate cost of the ride, since I believe they don't run on meter. Can we visit the Fez medina on our own without a guide?
Hi @subhrajyotibhar5993, You'll want to catch our Do's and Don'ts episode from our series where we talk a lot about these questions and more. I'll link the series below, which also includes episodes from Marrakech and our tour of the Sahara Desert.
It is super easy to get a petit taxi in Fes. They are everywhere in the square outside the Blue Gate. It was fairly easy to negotiate a price. I showed the driver the address on my phone. In my situation another driver offered to help because the driver I approached was waiting for someone already. The person helping quoted 50 dirhams and took me around the corner to his vehicle, but he was more of a "limo" driver with a van. It actually was legit, and I accepted the price. (Here's his contact info if you need it. You can text using WhatsApp; typically he will only need 30 minutes' notice-classiclinestour.com/contact.php). On the return, I caught a petit cab on the side of the road and was quoted only 20 dirhams for the exact same return trip. I was caught a little off guard when the driver stopped and allowed three separate groups to get in and out along the route (each group paid). Overall it was a very straightforward process.
And absolutely you can visit the Fes medina on your own without a guide. Stick to the main drags while you're getting your feet wet. We navigated best using Google Maps, so make sure you have it downloaded if you don't typically use it. You can book a walking tour, but be prepared that those tours will involve going to various souks and there will be a little pressure to buy something. Your guide should pick up the cost of the visit, except for at the Tannery, where they might need you to leave a few tips. (I was quoted 150 dirhams for it), but our guide was running an hour late and I didn't have a good feeling about going on the tour or recommending them after that.) -Judy
🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
Lol we have Linner too!😅
You mentioned that you both got sick, how often do you get sick these days? You must have built up pretty good immune systems by now, with all the exotic places you’ve been to.
Hi Dan! You know, I've come to the conclusion that I don't have the best gut biome. I've had stomach issues in the last few countries we've visited, and since Kevin has been eating the same things as me, I don't have a great explanation for it. But it sucks. I probably should check out some probiotics to see if they'd help, Kevin has a chronic issue of diverticulosis, which sometimes flares up. And there are a lot of germs floating around when we're in airplanes so we are mindful of that and can get a little rundown when we arrive somewhere. Kevi has been dealing with a bit of that here in Argentina. None of it is too much of an issue, but it can be a killjoy when we miss out on activities we want to do.
And we are delighted to hear that you have linner, too! -Judy
@ my favourite thing for gut health is cabbage. It helps being of Central European heritage, sauerkraut or red cabbage is a staple of so many of our meals. It’s natures secret probiotic.
@@danbulowski7013 Ah yes, good old sauerkraut! I do actually really enjoy it and forgot about it. I'm eating yogurt, but I have some dairy sensitivities, so that's a good alternative. We didn't really shop for groceries in Morocco, but I'm sure we can find it here in Argentina. Thanks for the suggestion. Fortunately, I haven't really been bothered here, but you never know! -Judy
@ while you’re in South America, can you please try the Guinea pig skewers? Apparently they’re really good
Fez...any day 🙂
Fez has a lot to share. Maybe you missed some beautiful places, but the most important thing for me is that you enjoyed it. Fez needs a local guide with you because its mystery lies in its alleyways. It has stood for 1215 years, preserving its original character. Fez is the city of 400 handicrafts, all made by hand. People may know about the tannery, but there is much more to discover. Anyway, welcome again and again!
Here’s a small piece of information: without the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, you might never have known about the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4... Europe used Roman numerals until Pope Sylvester II came to Fez, discovered these new numbers, and helped spread them across Europe and the world.
Good tips. Staying outside the Medina sounds like a great plan. We'll be in Morocco in 2025.
@ExploreTayo: We really think staying *inside* the medina is going to be so much better. It really isn't hard to get around and choosing to stay in the New City puts you away from the entire point of visiting Fes, which is such an interesting, authentic city. Thanks for watching and we hope you have a great trip. Here is our full series from Morocco in case you missed any episodes. We'd love to know what you think of it when you return home. -Judy
🎥 Morocco Travel Series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0_pL4S2LnqlBz2KBX9XMCc.html
@FindingGinaMarie we ended up booking inside after all.
@ExploreTayo Oh good! I think you’ll have a much better experience that way! -Judy
Comme la synagogue et la mosquée l'accès n.est pas permis parce que c est un lieu de prière uniquement pour les croyants ça a toujours été comme ça par contre la grande mosquée hassan 2 est accessible à tout le monde pour le tourisme et c est la plus grande mosquée en Afrique c.est un vrai monument historique que je vous conseille de visiter
@UnidentifiedFlyingObject-d8w We completely understand the reasoning. We actually were able to visit the historic Al-Hussein Mosque when we were in Cairo in 2023 and were able to sit down with a Muslim guide to answer many of our questions. It was a fascinating experience! Thanks so much for watching and for your insights and suggestion. -Judy
@FindingGinaMarie
You are welcome
That's a terrible tip, Western union also give you a bad conversion rate + fees
In my case, Western Union waived the fee and the conversion rate was comparable to Chase withdrawals at an ATM. Plus, I needed a lot more money than I could withdraw from any Fes ATM. What would you suggest as an alternative to Western Union or ATMs? - Kevin