October 28, 2018

October 28, 2018

We got up later than planned today because of confusion on the actual time. Early this morning, Daylight Savings Time was supposed to expire and clocks turned back an hour. The King decided two days ago to keep Morocco permanently on DST. Apparently the telephone companies didn’t get the word; most cellphones made the switch anyway which is why our phone alarm didn’t wake us earlier. Personally I think DST is a stupid idea. I always disliked having to change all the clocks in the house twice a year. It causes too much confusion. If there are true benefits just change when school or businesses start and leave the clocks alone. Our guide said it is common for tourists to miss airline flights on the day clocks Spring ahead.

With the confusion our bus left a little late on our journey east. Two hours later we passed the old walled Medina of Meknes, a World Heritage Site and another of Morocco’s Four Royal Cities. Meknes was the capital for a half century around 1700.

Twenty miles north of Meknes up a winding road we arrived at the Roman City of Volubilis, another World Heritage Site. Volubilis was the capital of the Roman Province of Mauretania. It thrived on the rich local soil producing grains and olive oil for the Empire. The area continues to provide Morocco with valuable export commodities. As we climb the hillside toward the extensive city we pass dozens of ruins admiring several homes with intricate floor mosaics. We top out at the Basilica, or governmental center.  The Catholic cathedral got its name and design from it. All around are pedestals with Roman inscriptions. Each held a statue. Volubilis must have been highly decorated in its prime.

A few minutes later the rain began to pour again, and we rushed wet and cold back to the entrance. There we perused the small museum loaded with artifacts found during excavation. No wonder the new Archeology Museum in Rabat had so many fine Roman specimens.

On a hillside in the distance we see the pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss, looking like a two-humped camel. The town is named after the descendent of Mohammed buried there. In 789AD Idriss took refuge in Volubilis and went on to establish the first Kingdom of Morocco.

Our tour guide pointed out some of the local flora. One is the Oleander flower for which Volubilis is named. More interesting was the Carob Tree whose beans are so uniform they were used to weigh gold. A pure gold coin common in the Late Roman era weighed 24 Carob (or now Carat) seeds.

We drove back south stopping in Meknes for lunch. Aimee and I had Shish Kebab skewers of chicken with a dipping sauce.

After lunch we took the highway an hour east to the city of Fez. Fez is another of the four Royal Cities. Our first stop was at an overlook giving us a view of the oldest Medina of Fez. Fez hugs the river valley below.