On Wednesday, we went on a visit to the Medina in Fez with a guide called Amina. We plunged into a labyrinth of narrow passageways and were very glad that we had Amina, Hamid, Steve and another young lad to guide us through and make sure that we all came out again at the other end! It was beyond anything I had ever imagined: very crowded, very noisy; fully-laden donkeys and hand-pushed carts; small shops selling silks, embroidery threads, slippers, handbags and leather goods, silverware, antiquities, live chickens, fruits and veg. etc, etc, etc.
We were taken into a restaurant for lunch, and then into a carpet shop, a store selling scarves, silks and throws, and to a tannery. I was once more singled out for the hard sell and taken into the back room of the carpet shop and shown lots more rugs. Fortunately, David came to my rescue and said “No” far more firmly than I could and we managed to escape from the dark depths of the carpet den without having spent a fortune. Actually, the rugs were beautiful; I love the rich earthy orange and yellow and red mixes that the Berbers seem to be particularly fond of – the colours of spices.
The tannery, too, was pretty amazing. We were led right up onto a roof to look down on all the different pools that the hides go through as part of the tanning process. We were also taken into a mosque [not used anymore which is why we were allowed in] – the tilework and stonework were incredibly ornate, more so than anything I have seen in an English church or abbey. All in all, it was an extremely interesting but a very long day.
We were taken into a restaurant for lunch, and then into a carpet shop, a store selling scarves, silks and throws, and to a tannery. I was once more singled out for the hard sell and taken into the back room of the carpet shop and shown lots more rugs. Fortunately, David came to my rescue and said “No” far more firmly than I could and we managed to escape from the dark depths of the carpet den without having spent a fortune. Actually, the rugs were beautiful; I love the rich earthy orange and yellow and red mixes that the Berbers seem to be particularly fond of – the colours of spices.
The tannery, too, was pretty amazing. We were led right up onto a roof to look down on all the different pools that the hides go through as part of the tanning process. We were also taken into a mosque [not used anymore which is why we were allowed in] – the tilework and stonework were incredibly ornate, more so than anything I have seen in an English church or abbey. All in all, it was an extremely interesting but a very long day.
Views of Fez from the old fort.
More pics to come when I can get them to upload!
Not sure if this comment will work but here goes...love the photos, they are getting more impressive with each post as are your sun tans! It all makes very enjoyable reading and sounds as though it is living up to the four years of expectations!!
ReplyDeleteLots of love to you both, Julie and William
Ha! It worked. I am a clever girl...worked it out all by myself. If anyone else wants to comment I will describe how I did it just as soon as I work out what I did exactly...did the first bit a couple of weeks ago, then got stuck, now can't remember what that first step was!!
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