12 May 2023, Fes, 68.27km
Maison du Lac R495 [DH260]

For km after km after km we simply sat on our saddles and let gravity do the work. So easy was the terrain that instead of breaking the 70km to our apartment in north Fes into two rides as planned, we confirmed with our hosts that they could accommodate us from tonight instead of tomorrow, and here we are, settling in for a nine night sojourn.
Again we are staying just outside medina walls in a suburb with the same look and feel as the medina. Again we will need to carefully identify and photograph landmarks so we can find our way 'home'. It took us almost two hours to locate the apartment when we were within a mere 2km of it! Truth be told, we did not locate it. Our host, who knew we were travelling by bike, spotted us from the terrace while we were pushing our bikes through a nearby park, and managed to track us down and lead us to where we needed to be!
Our Ifrane homestay host served us a sizeable breakfast this morning. Then we pottered through "little Switzerland" to take an obligatory photo in front of the Ifrane stone lion. "It was carved by a German soldier during WWII, when Ifrane was used briefly as a prisoner-of-war camp, in exchange for the prisoner's freedom – or so the story goes – and commemorates the last wild Atlas lion, which was shot near here in the early 1920s. Having your picture taken with the lion is something of a ritual for Moroccan day trippers." And busloads of tourists. And us.
We cycled through a vast national park, and past a gazillion olive trees, and had a lunch of fresh orange juice and French fries at the most welcoming garage, all bright chairs and roses and colourful photos of enticing food.
City cycling, normally stressful, was made easy by the three-lane N8 which led us from Ifrane almost to our door, the continuing downward trend, and the tolerance of Moroccan drivers.
South Fes comprises modern public and private buildings, restaurants set in pretty gardens, and nurseries.
Our apartment is one of three in a tall old house. The stairs leading to our floor have narrow treads and risers almost twice the standard height. It can sleep five, has a functional kitchen, and a view of the park. Our private bathroom is on the landing outside our apartment, and has the most beautiful painted door.
Looking forward to some R&R in the big city.