Fes

June 18

Past Deanna booked a full day tour with a driver for today. Thank you, Past Deanna. That was an excellent choice.

Present Deanna was pretty surprised when Moustaffa showed up this morning with a driver, and a full day of activities planned, despite the holiday. The holiday made the markets much easier to navigate, and far easier for a woman with bad eyesight, but it was a lot less exciting. Most things were still not open today, so Moustaffa made a day of showing us the Medina’s historical landmarks. We were able to see the craftsmen and women, which I was really excited about.

Here I am yesterday beside the door of our hotel. We were worried we would never find it again. In a small oversight on our part we lost Adil’s Car in the Medina. It proved challenging for today because inside Adil’s Car were our phone chargers. Moustaffa promised he would find Adil’s Car, and as we learned today, everyone in the 9,000 streets of the Medina knows each other. He knew Joseph and found our car! (Well, Adil’s Car).

We learned about the science, history, and dedication to knowledge within Fes. Here is the oldest university in the world. And just below is the world’s first clock created by a Jewish scholar. It is called Dar al-Magana, or House of the Clock. Built in the 14th Century by Marinid Sultan Abu Inan Faris. Morocco was well known during the time of the Crusades for creating a home for Muslims and Jewish people alike. They lived side-by-side in harmony here for centuries. 

The Medina has The Blue Gate as a landmark. It is actually the Green Gate from inside the Medina. The green on the arch represents nature. As an ancient person walked toward the gates, the green would tell them that the farmland was just on the other side.

From the other side the Blue Gate welcomes visitors to Fes. This shade of blue represents Fes.

We walked over to the Golden Doors of the Royal Palace.

Here are some examples of the mosaic work from the artisans of Morocco.

The Jewish Quarter begins right at the edge of the palace. Higher class citizens lived to the left, while merchants lived to the right. The poor lived in an area behind where I was standing for this shot.

Moustaffa took us first to the school for the artisans created by UNESCO to preserve the artistic style of the Moroccan people. Their knowledge is used to help renovate palaces, homes, and historical buildings.

This place focuses on ceramics and mosaics. 

All of the glazes are completely natural, made from flowers, or minerals.

Because Fes has a long history of multiculturalism, there are three styles of pottery. Sometimes they overlap in both modern works, and ancient works.

This is the Jewish Style.

This is the Arabic Style.

This is the Bedouin Style.

The Tagine is a traditional cooking style in Morocco. They are beautiful, and the food is delicious.

Here is the panoramic view of Fes from the guard posts above.

Moustaffa gave us some tips on navigating the Medina.

Hexagon means there is a dead end. Notice it is written in Arabic, Bedouin, and French.

Rectangle means that it leads to a main road.

Morocco is also famous for their rugs made from died wool, and camel hair. If you know me, you know this is my happy place. Unfortunately they do not really sell the yarn, and truthfully, it was not fine enough to want to knit with anyway. I still loved seeing the colors and process though. 

The Mosque Al QARAOUIYINE founded and gifted by a woman. in 859. Bam. I love that. 

Then we looked at rugs and Nic considered selling me for 3,000 camels so he could buy one. Thankfully, Moustaffa intervened.

Then we had lunch and made up. Nic has decided he likes me better than the rug - for now.

We then headed over to the Madrasa of Fes el-Jdid. Here rural children were sent to be educated in Fes during the14th Century.

We ended our day at the ancient tanneries still in use today. They were very busy today with all of the skins from the day before. When you walk in they hand you a pile of mint to smell as you tour through. It is odiferous, for sure. Again, their dyes are all. Natural and made from flowers, and minerals.

We are both pretty tired. We ate in the quiet restaurant where it feels like we live with a really nice servant who appears with food and coffee and mint tea. We are curling up tonight to read, and rest to prepare for whatever adventure tomorrow brings.