Both are imperial cities - capitals that represented some of the most powerful Moroccan kings - whose walls, alleyways and ornate riads bear testimony to the ancestral craftsmanship that put them on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Their customs and atmosphere are emblematic of the soul of the medina, or urban Morocco.

But once you step closer, Fez and Meknes couldn’t be more different; each is a reflection of their respective history and population.

Fez was the capital of the first Arab Muslim kingdom in the 9^th century. The city was developed under multiple dynasties into the cultural capital of Morocco, which still holds true today.

Meknes, founded two centuries later only 60km away, was developed as a military base that stands to this day. King Moulay Ismael made it the country’s capital in 1672, and had the palace in Meknes built to compete with Versailles.

When it comes to these imperial cities, Fez is sophisticated: dazzling in its Moorish architecture, and diverse courtesy of the waves of Andalucíans who elected it as their new home. Its pioneering Mederssas (universities), and rich cultural heritage enhance the city’s seductiveness.

My second experience was the Tailor Quarter (or El-Khaiatine).

See, the medina souk is always organised in quarters: tailors, jewelers, carpenters, sculptors, tanners etc. and each quarter has many small shops, all contributing goods within the same trade.

At the tailor, we used to shop for bespoke pajamas (probably because pajamas are a big thing in Morocco, but more on that another day). To do this: we choose the fabric, get our measurements taken and receive our square-shaped pajama (note to self: skip step 2 next time). Ten minutes was all it took for a girl’s pajamas to be constructed, like a dress rehearsal for the future hours and days spent waiting to receive these ornate, flowy creations, which are custom made before each aid (religious celebrations).

But the medina in Meknes is not just about the souk. It is mostly about the architecture. Spanning 25km, the impressive city walls are pierced by even more incredible gates. The most striking of which is Bab Mansour: Gate of the Victorious.

Bab Mansour is Morocco’s most famous gate. Built by Sultan Moulay Ismail, it was the finishing touch on his masterpiece, an enormous reconstruction project that rivals Versailles.

The first thing visitors see is the engraving (in Arabic): “I am the most beautiful gate in Morocco. I’m like the moon in the sky. Property and wealth are written on my front.”

To me it has always been an achingly beautiful pause on the way to my grandmother’s house in the medina.

It is a gate into the imagination; a door that centuries of Moroccans and others have experienced.

A pause. Time travel.