Sunday, June 21, 2009

Volubilis, Mocorro


If you want to visit the 2nd Century, an easy day trip from Fes are the Roman Ruins of Volubilis. Once home to 20,000 people, the ruins were inhabited until the great quake in 1722 and then razed as an archaeological site in 1915.

A marble, Triumphal Arch still stands marking the entrance to this illustrious city. It leads down the ceremonial road, Decumanus Maximus, lined by houses, baths, fountains, a bakery, a basilica, massage chairs and more. Many of the tiny mosaic floors remain in tact exposed to all the elements of weather for centuries.

The city's Capitol is now controlled by storks who lay their eggs annually teaching their babes to fly from atop the ancient columns. Free to wonder throughout the site, Alex jumped from wall-to-wall, practiced pressing olives and picked wildflowers.