I liked Meknes, admittedly I would probably give it the lowest billing of Morocco's four Imperial cities, but I did find it the most welcoming and the one where it felt easiest to get a grasp of everyday life in a Moroccan city.

There are a few monumental sites; Bab Mansour being the most obvious, but the imperial grounds behind are certainly worth the time to walk around. We had a rather enjoyable meal overlooking the city walls before heading down to join the locals out for a post fast celebration on Place Lalla Aouda. Indeed the main square Place el Hedim brought back fond memories of Marrakesh. Whilst it certainly isn't Jemaa El Fna it was a welcoming and enjoyable place with a distinct buzz and relatively low hassle value. After our issues with Fez after dark it was really nice to be able to stroll around in a friendly environment and witness locals heading off to the Mosque and bartering in the souqs. We even enjoyed the odd experience of being stranded in the new town as a sandstorm swept through the town, the eerie desolation led off empty streets as dusk set in was certainly unique.

Meknes may not be the greatest city in Morocco, however we rather enjoyed its relaxed ambiance and its location close to Fez, Volubilis and Rabat make it a nice easy place to visit; a great place to escape for a more laid back urban version of Morocco.

[Site 6: Experience 6]