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Fès, Morocco (October 2007)

Fès is the oldest of the four imperial cities in Morocco (the others are Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat), and it has the largest medina (old town) in Morocco, with great souks (markets), ancient walls and gates. Fès was founded in 808 by Idris II, and it quickly became an important trading, intellectual and artistic center during its first three centuries under the Merenid dynasty. The kings of the Marindid dynasty and the later Alawid dynasty built many monuments in Fès, which are still preserved today in their Spanish-Moorish style. Fès is separated into three parts, Fès el Bali (the old walled city), Fès-Jdid (new Fès, home of the Mellah), and Ville Nouvelle (the French-created and newest section of Fès). To get a real feel for the city, you have to get lost in the maze of 10,000 tiny streets which have the feel and appearance of a medieval Islamic city. As you walk around Fès, your senses will be inundated with the cacophony of beautiful sights, intricate sounds, colorful smells and delicious tastes. A trip to Fès is a truly unique experience and is like a fascinating trip back in time!
Fès, Morocco cover page.
Fès, Morocco cover page.		 Map of Morocco with the star indicating Fès.
Map of Morocco with the star indicating Fès.		 The famous Boueloud Gate in Fès looks old but was completed in 1913. The blue mosaic tiles are the color of Fès.
The famous Boueloud Gate in Fès looks old but was completed in 1913. The blue mosaic tiles are the color of Fès.		 Muslim women walking by a fruit stand in the medina of Fès.
Muslim women walking by a fruit stand in the medina of Fès.
Olive vendor in a food market (souk) in Fès.
Olive vendor in a food market (souk) in Fès.		 As I walked through the souk, I spotted this man who was selling live chickens.
As I walked through the souk, I spotted this man who was selling live chickens.		 Old water clock made by Jewish people in the 13th century. The 12 windows represent the 12 hours of the clock.
Old water clock made by Jewish people in the 13th century. The 12 windows represent the 12 hours of the clock.		 Interior of the Bou Inania Medrassa which was built in the 14th century by Abou Inan, the first ruler of the Merenid dynasty.
Interior of the Bou Inania Medrassa which was built in the 14th century by Abou Inan, the first ruler of the Merenid dynasty.
Students did their ablutions including washing their feet in this fountain at the medrassa.
Students did their ablutions including washing their feet in this fountain at the medrassa.		 Beautifully carved wooden door and mosaics in the medrassa.
Beautifully carved wooden door and mosaics in the medrassa.		 In the Muslim religion, it is forbidden for faces to be depicted in mosaics, only geometric designs are permitted.
In the Muslim religion, it is forbidden for faces to be depicted in mosaics, only geometric designs are permitted.		 Door in the medrassa. The students attended from age 15 to 19. It closed in 1971.
Door in the medrassa. The students attended from age 15 to 19. It closed in 1971.
Mosque in the medrassa with stained glass windows. Students were required to pray 5 times a day.
Mosque in the medrassa with stained glass windows. Students were required to pray 5 times a day.		 A minaret as seen from the medrassa.
A minaret as seen from the medrassa.		 A 14th century ceiling design in the medrassa of the sun and moon. It is made of cedar.
A 14th century ceiling design in the medrassa of the sun and moon. It is made of cedar.		 As I was leaving the medrassa, I noticed these 3 cats who had made themselves at home in a nook among some mosaic tiles.
As I was leaving the medrassa, I noticed these 3 cats who had made themselves at home in a nook among some mosaic tiles.
Minaret of a small mosque in the medina of Fès.
Minaret of a small mosque in the medina of Fès.		 This man was carving Muslim gravestones.
This man was carving Muslim gravestones.		 Close-up of a gravestone. The Muslim holy day is Friday.
Close-up of a gravestone. The Muslim holy day is Friday.		 I enjoyed eating La Vache qui Rit (Laughing Cow) cheese, which is very popular in Morocco.
I enjoyed eating "La Vache qui Rit" (Laughing Cow) cheese, which is very popular in Morocco.
A Muslim woman walking in front of an ancient door in the medina in Fès.
A Muslim woman walking in front of an ancient door in the medina in Fès.		 A 14th century door to a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden).
A 14th century door to a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden).		 Design of the hand of Fatimah (Muhammed's daughter), which is supposed to bring good luck.
Design of the hand of Fatimah (Muhammed's daughter), which is supposed to bring good luck.		 Iron door to the 5 star Riad Fès.
Iron door to the 5 star Riad Fès.
Close-up of the door to the Riad Fès.
Close-up of the door to the Riad Fès.		 A narrow passageway in the medina in Fès.
A narrow passageway in the medina in Fès.		 The passageway leads to these abandoned houses seen above.
The passageway leads to these abandoned houses seen above.		 A homeless man in Fès.
A homeless man in Fès.
These mules are known as medina taxis in Morocco.
These mules are known as "medina taxis" in Morocco.		 A 14th century window. Before a woman was married, she was not supposed to be seen.
A 14th century window. Before a woman was married, she was not supposed to be seen.		 A 14th century public fountain. It is no longer working.
A 14th century public fountain. It is no longer working.		 View of a Berber mosque door from the 11th century.
View of a Berber mosque door from the 11th century.
Interior of Dar Adiyel, a 14th century house named after the Adiyel family. It was restored in the 19th century.
Interior of Dar Adiyel, a 14th century house named after the Adiyel family. It was restored in the 19th century.		 A composite (from 3 photos) of the courtyard of Dar Adiyel in Fès. In the summer, the family used the downstairs to stay cool.
A composite (from 3 photos) of the courtyard of Dar Adiyel in Fès. In the summer, the family used the downstairs to stay cool.		 Man hauling cases of Coca Cola through the medina on the back of a horse.
Man hauling cases of Coca Cola through the medina on the back of a horse.		 I passed by this old man who was resting in the medina.
I passed by this old man who was resting in the medina.
My tour guide took me to many shops including this furniture shop (probably hoping to get a commission).
My tour guide took me to many shops including this furniture shop (probably hoping to get a commission).		 Sign for the Shouara Tannery, the largest of the 4 still-existing ancient tanneries in Fès, where leather products are made.
Sign for the Shouara Tannery, the largest of the 4 still-existing ancient tanneries in Fès, where leather products are made.		 Cow, sheep, goat, and camel skins are treated in chemicals in dried-earth pits, and are pounded, scraped and dried.
Cow, sheep, goat, and camel skins are treated in chemicals in dried-earth pits, and are pounded, scraped and dried.		 The skins are placed in a saline solution, lime, pigeon droppings, and then any of several natural dyes.
The skins are placed in a saline solution, lime, pigeon droppings, and then any of several natural dyes.
Liquid dyes such as antimony for black, indigo for blue, poppies for red and saffron for yellow are used in the Fès tannery.
Liquid dyes such as antimony for black, indigo for blue, poppies for red and saffron for yellow are used in the Fès tannery.		 When at the tannery, visitors are given a sprig of mint to offset the noxious odors that emanate from it.
When at the tannery, visitors are given a sprig of mint to offset the noxious odors that emanate from it.		 View of a tanner treating some of animal skins with lime.
View of a tanner treating some of animal skins with lime.		 Close-up of a tanner. With the noxious ever-present odors, this has to be one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world!
Close-up of a tanner. With the noxious ever-present odors, this has to be one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world!
Barefoot workers in shorts pick up skins from the bottom of the dyeing vats with their feet, then work them manually.
Barefoot workers in shorts pick up skins from the bottom of the dyeing vats with their feet, then work them manually.		 A tanner carrying animal skins. They need to be in good shape to do this kind of work (and, hopefully, have congested sinuses)!
A tanner carrying animal skins. They need to be in good shape to do this kind of work (and, hopefully, have congested sinuses)!		 A public fountain in Fès built in the mid 19th century and is still in use today.
A public fountain in Fès built in the mid 19th century and is still in use today.		 This cat jumped up on the fountain to get a drink of water.
This cat jumped up on the fountain to get a drink of water.
Horses that were carrying large boxes in Nejjarine Square Fès.
Horses that were carrying large boxes in Nejjarine Square Fès.		 These doors are to the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts.
These doors are to the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts.		 Interior of the courtyard of the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts. It is located in a former 16th caravanserai (roadside inn).
Interior of the courtyard of the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts. It is located in a former 16th caravanserai (roadside inn).		 A beautiful wood artifact on display at the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts.
A beautiful wood artifact on display at the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts.
I climbed up to the roof of the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and saw these two doves.
I climbed up to the roof of the Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts and saw these two doves.		 Close-up of one of the doves.
Close-up of one of the doves.		 The tour guide took me to a factory that makes these (over-the-top) throne-like chairs.
The tour guide took me to a factory that makes these (over-the-top) throne-like chairs.		 He also took me to a shop where this man was making decorative bronze plates.
He also took me to a shop where this man was making decorative bronze plates.
View of people as I walked through the medina.
View of people as I walked through the medina.		 I saw this mint vendor at one of the souks in Fès.
I saw this mint vendor at one of the souks in Fès.		 These two Moroccan men were having a pleasant afternoon taking a break in the medina in Fès.
These two Moroccan men were having a pleasant afternoon taking a break in the medina in Fès.		 Another beautiful wooden door that I saw in Fès.
Another beautiful wooden door that I saw in Fès.
A weaving factory located in what was formerly a caravanserai (roadside inn).
A weaving factory located in what was formerly a caravanserai (roadside inn).		 Tourists examining fabrics in the weaving factory in Fès.
Tourists examining fabrics in the weaving factory in Fès.		 Interior of the 3 star Hotel Batha located in the heart of Fès close to the medina.
Interior of the 3 star Hotel Batha located in the heart of Fès close to the medina.		 Fountain with beautiful mosaics inside the Hotel Batha.
Fountain with beautiful mosaics inside the Hotel Batha.
Picture taken with a wide-angle lens of the courtyard of the Hotel Batha.
Picture taken with a wide-angle lens of the courtyard of the Hotel Batha.		 The Hotel Batha pool.
The Hotel Batha pool.		 A view at dusk of the exterior of the Hotel Batha.
A view at dusk of the exterior of the Hotel Batha.		 View of the Boueloud Gate at dusk.
View of the Boueloud Gate at dusk.
A dusk view of the main gate to the Kasbah (fortress) in Fès.
A dusk view of the main gate to the Kasbah (fortress) in Fès.		 A minaret in Fès seen at dusk.
A minaret in Fès seen at dusk.

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