I just got back from a week in sunny Morocco. I spent time in Marrakech and Fes plus a day trip to the Atlas Mountains (near Marrakech).
Unfortunately, I can't say I had a good time. It really wasn't at all what I expected, I especially didn't like Marrakech. I thought the old city (the medina) was going to be a great place to explore but there wasn't really that much to see outside of the souks and seeing I'm not much of a shopper, the souks weren't that interesting for me. It was also very expensive - tourist prices everywhere.
Fes was a little more interesting as I got to see the famous tanneries. The smell was horrendous but it was interesting to watch. Fes is famous for it's artisans so also got to see silk weaving and a mosaics factory. It's a tough job working in any of those places, that's for sure.
I did get severe food poisoning while in Fes which is probably the main reason I had such a poor experience. The food was all very fresh but I guess the hygiene isn't quite up to European standards. It's a shame but it seems quite a few tourists get sick while in Morocco.
What I found most difficult was seeing the extreme gap between rich and poor. I visited one young guys house which was basically a 30 sqm room where he lived with his mother and 2 sisters. They shared a bathroom and kitchen with the entire building and didn't even have a proper door for their room, just a curtain. Then just out of the city you have these huge mansions with luxury cars parked in the driveway and not to mention the king who has a palace in every city
I'm glad I visited of course, I want to see as much as the world as possible. I'll just try to me more careful where I eat in future!
