Tagines, Prunes and Dunes; Morocco! FES

Fes (30th April - 2nd May)

 

Fes has a huge medina and we found it extremely easy to lose your bearings and get lost! There is no real way to keep track of where you are going, besides landmarks you may remember, however if you are trying to walk from one end of the medina to the other – using a smartphone and GPS is a great way to find your way to where you need to be.

 

The streets are narrow, dark and cool, and you will often come across a man riding a donkey or horse, people pulling goods in barrows or men on bikes flitting past. 

 

 

 

There are many marketplaces within the medina, we wandered through one and were amazed with the beautiful produce on offer. From live chickens and fruit and veg to fresh dates, bottled rosewater and preserved lemons – everything you could possibly want is here!  We also sampled a beautiful fried doughnut - it was amazing!

 

Snails

Onions

Olives, Figs, Raisins

 

Live Chickens for sale

Rose petals and Rose water for sale

Preserved lemons and pickled vegetables

 

Fried Doughut - dipped into the oil using a palm leaf

While in Fes, we had to visit the tannery. We were amazed at the processes involved and the ingredients used in the making of the leathers. We were advised goats, sheep, dromedary and cows are used for the leather in Fes. The skin is covered in a natural ammonia – guano (pigeon poo), then put through a wash press to remove the ammonia. Once done, the skin is then died using natural pigments, eg poppies for red, indigo for blue, coal for black and henna for yellow. Once died, the skin is then sundried ready for making into bags, coats, furniture and other souvenirs etc...

 

The skins ready to be put through the steps

The pools filled with ammonia (white pools)

The pools used for dying the leather

 

The skins out to dry in the sun, after being washed and dyed

Passing through the medina, we passed Place Seffarine, a place where coppersmiths produce pots, pans, tea pots, incense burners and cous cous cookers. The busy noise of copper being shaped and polished was all around the square and the vibe was lovely, with nearby locals playing music with traditional instruments.

 
 

While in Fes we visited a Koranic school where people able to stay and learn all about Islam. The walls, doors and ceilings are beautifully decorated with lovely wood carvings, etched tiles and the stained glass allows for beautiful coloured reflections on the wall.

 

 

 

While watching the world go by with a cup of Moroccan mint tea, we spotted a local man offering water, which was held in a goat skin casing and he tipped the water out of a hose into copper cups for people. The people would tip the man and thank him for the water, and get on with their day. We also spotted these men, in the same outfits in other cities throughout Morocco.