Volubilis

We left Meknes on the little bus that will be our transport for the rest of the trip.

The countryside became more mountainous.

Lots of olive trees.

We came to the Roman city of Volubilis. It dates from the 3rd century BC and was inhabited for several hundred years but was destroyed by an earthquake.

I liked the orange and yellow flowers.

Closeup of the flowers.

At each of the cities and locations we visit, a local guide is provided who is an expert. Our guide did a thorough job of explaining the buildings and the mosaics on the floors.

Cypress tree.

The columns supported an aqueduct. Unesco has provided money to help restore and preserve the site and apparently the restorers have access to drawings that were made prior to the earthquake in the mid 18th century.

Early in the film Patton, he visits this site and talks about how he was a warrior here in a past life.

The baths.

Bacchus. This would have been a good area to grow vines and make wine.

Restoration of the lintel, aided by the old drawings.

There used to be a Christian community here prior to the arrival of Islam.

Storks and their nest.

All the guides wear big straw hats.

Each year an animal would be sacrificed here.

Only a portion of the site has been worked on so far. There is a huge area down this hillside that will eventually be uncovered.

We then got back into the bus and proceeded to Fes.

A dam has created this lake used to water the surrounding area.

Of course there has to be a shop at the viewpoint.

And here I am again.

The road was quite windy with lots of hills. Eventually we saw Fes in the distance.

The Roman ruins were impressive but once you have seen the Egyptian ruins that are so much older, the Roman ruins are not quite so amazing.