Photos of Morocco, pt. 6
To recap, we arrived in Fes at late morning, after a harrowing 13 hour trip across the Atlas Mountains.
This was taken from the rooftop terrace of our hotel.
Day One
After resting, we wandered through the medina (old town). We had a meal in a little cafe that was really a very thin front for what is known in the Netherlands as a coffee house. The only other patrons in the narrow little room would have looked more at home in a mall in downtown L.A. They were listening to rap, sharing ear buds. The shopkeeper went to nearby market stalls to get our food. He and his friend offered us a joint or two. From speakers overhead played Bob Marley's greatest hits. Young men streamed in and out of a side room with a ladder leading somewhere above. During the call to prayer, they turned off the music. A little later, a policeman walked in. Chiarina and Robin and I looked at each other, thinking 'oh shit' -- until he traded his uniform jacket for a leather one borrowed from the shopkeeper, sat down, and smoked a joint.
Then we found ourselves on a self-guided tour (with little green signs) of the riads and gardens of Fes.
This is an old palace, with the former ruler's descendants still living in the building and making money by giving tours of the place.
That smoke on the horizon is from the wood-fired kilns of the pottery makers.
This was taken by the very sweet tour guides at a Moroccan Art and Architecture School.
These tiny fruits were very pretty, but also pretty disgusting.
And then there was some more eating, and some more sleeping.
Day Two
We went for a walk out of the old city, up into the beautiful grave-covered hills above.
They were so big! And crawling all over the rocks. I love pill bugs.
Outside a military history museum.
So huge.
And so tiny.
They are drying tanned hides, and the wool that was scraped from them, in a graveyard.
And then we wandered down and visited the most famous Medersa of Fes. Home to a cute but very pregnant cat.
And a second more dignified cat. The father?
Inside one of the prayer rooms, light from the stained glass window on a cedarwood door.
And then we got on a bus to Meknes. And drank tea in the central market square.
This was taken from the rooftop terrace of our hotel.
Day One
After resting, we wandered through the medina (old town). We had a meal in a little cafe that was really a very thin front for what is known in the Netherlands as a coffee house. The only other patrons in the narrow little room would have looked more at home in a mall in downtown L.A. They were listening to rap, sharing ear buds. The shopkeeper went to nearby market stalls to get our food. He and his friend offered us a joint or two. From speakers overhead played Bob Marley's greatest hits. Young men streamed in and out of a side room with a ladder leading somewhere above. During the call to prayer, they turned off the music. A little later, a policeman walked in. Chiarina and Robin and I looked at each other, thinking 'oh shit' -- until he traded his uniform jacket for a leather one borrowed from the shopkeeper, sat down, and smoked a joint.
Then we found ourselves on a self-guided tour (with little green signs) of the riads and gardens of Fes.
This is an old palace, with the former ruler's descendants still living in the building and making money by giving tours of the place.
That smoke on the horizon is from the wood-fired kilns of the pottery makers.
This was taken by the very sweet tour guides at a Moroccan Art and Architecture School.
These tiny fruits were very pretty, but also pretty disgusting.
And then there was some more eating, and some more sleeping.
Day Two
We went for a walk out of the old city, up into the beautiful grave-covered hills above.
They were so big! And crawling all over the rocks. I love pill bugs.
Outside a military history museum.
So huge.
And so tiny.
They are drying tanned hides, and the wool that was scraped from them, in a graveyard.
And then we wandered down and visited the most famous Medersa of Fes. Home to a cute but very pregnant cat.
And a second more dignified cat. The father?
Inside one of the prayer rooms, light from the stained glass window on a cedarwood door.
And then we got on a bus to Meknes. And drank tea in the central market square.