Fes was everything I read about and more.
Fes is an ancient city that seems to come right out of a movie, it has a palace that no one has seen inside of, a medina with over 9400 streets and dead-ends, 350 mosques, souks (markets) selling everything and anything, owners of donkeys steering products through the markets (Mulak Mulak – get out of the way!), An ‘aromatic tannery’, leather, ceramics, pick pockets, silk from Algarve and carpets! What a city. You must visit Fes.
With over 9400 winding alleys, dead-ends, and towering walls all around, you must go with a guide.
This is what you will find in Fes.
Chouara Tannery Fes
The Chouara tannery is one of the most iconic and confronting places to visit. As you walk down the stairs to what is ostensibly a leather handbag shop, they hand you a small bouquet of mint leaves. A lovely gesture, a tradition for this shop…no…it is to stem the stench from the tannery at the back of the building. The smell is so disgusting I felt nauseous. I was almost inhaling the mint leaves themselves to avoid a inhaling any air.
Taking photos while holding a mint bouquet and feeling nauseous was a challenge. After a while the stench somehow became tolerable enough to allow for some shopping…but not for long. I purchased a beautiful yellow leather satchel and a pair of leather Moroccan slippers. Time to leave…
Ceramics in Fes
Fes’s Royal Palace – Dar el-Makhzen
Although this Palace is closed to the public a visit to the facade is well worth it. As it turns out, this is a palace containing other palaces with 80 hectares (200 acres) of gardens and parade grounds. The entry doors and mosaics, which you see from Place de Alaouties, were made by artisans from Fes el-Bali. It was built during the reign of sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century.
Officials are met only in the front room of the palace. No one has seen further inside.
A visit to amazing Fes was part of the 15 day Moroccan tour that I did with Intrepid. Just so you know that I traveled with Intrepid independently. They were unaware that I would write a review.
This is the tour I took with Intrepid
Just a note that I traveled independently on this tour. Intrepid were unaware that I would write a review of the tip. I thoroughly recommend it!
North Morocco Adventure.
