It is always nice when you are on a tour to have more than one night in the same place, and Fez was the first three cities that we would be staying for two nights. The full day tour of the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities, was certainly one that I will remember for a long time. It started with a walk through the old Jewish part of the city. It was early in the morning and not many of the shops were open.
But I did spy this great motorbike cart. One of these would be so handy......some even had the back part covered over.
We then headed to a Pottery workshop, where everything is made on site. The clay is processed, pots made, painted, glazed and fired.
They also make tiles, which were then chipped into all different shapes and sizes, for the stunning mosaics that we saw throughout out travels. All hand cut/chipped.
This one caught my eye.....lol!
And of course we just had to have a look in the gift shop.
It was then on the bus and off to the Medina in Fez's Old town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is recognised as one of the best preserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world. On entering, through one of the many gates, we first had to give way to some donkeys who were coming back out after taking a load of goods in to one of the many shops inside. Their owner walked behind yelling commands, and the donkeys knew exactly where they were going.
Once inside we walked along the narrow lane ways that were lined with all different shops.
Some with 'modern' goods
lots with fruit, vegetables and brightly coloured food
Various types of butchery stands......some requiring a second glance to really take in what we were seeing.
Artisans were grouped together, these copper smiths were quite noisy as they banged away at their latest project.
We enjoyed having a special viewing at the rug and carpet souk. This rug took the maker two years to complete, and it was stunning. Certainly out of my price range, but I can certainly appreciate the time that the lady put in to making it.
There were beautiful sequin studded gowns,
and small rustic haberdashery shops. I would have loved to have stopped and checked them out, but I was so scared that I would get left behind that I had to be content with just a quick photo. The Medina is one of the world’s largest urban pedestrian zones, so believe me when I say if you got lost in there, it would take you a month to find your way out!
Our next stop was the most memorable, for good and bad reasons. We entered one of the many leather shops that surround the central tannery area. We were all handed a couple of stems of mint to counteract the smell. As we made our way closer to the balcony area, the smell becomes so bad that you wonder why on earth you are there, and the mint now is firmly planted under your nose.
The sight of the vats was amazing. The skins are cured using archaic ingredients (including cow urine, quicklime and pigeon faeces), hence the overwhelming smells. Those are the white looking vats at the back.
The sight of the multi-coloured dyeing vats in the central courtyard is certainly not to be missed......if you can put up with the smell!
I also have a theory that none of these men who work in the tannery area are married......because I am damn sure that no amount of scrubbing you bare legs would remove that stench! Even as I type this I can almost smell it again.....ugh.
It was suggested by Theresa (also on our tour) that shoving the mint up your nose was better than holding it under your nose. I gave it a try........it worked......but I ended up getting a piece stuck up my nose.....lol!
The bakery was a welcome relief and a much nicer smell.....no mint required!
It was out and around to see the Blue Gate, another of the many entrances to the Fez Medina, but probably the most recognisable.
And a final photo to finish this Morocco - Part 2 blog post on Fez......a sign at one of the toilets......
Still not quite sure what they mean by a Performance Toilet.......lol!
Linda :)