The Fes medina (walled city, Fes el-Bali), founded between A.D. 789 and 808, is an enormous quarter with 9,100 “streets” (some so narrow they accommodate only one person), a population of 300,000 and the biggest car-free area in the world. We spent the entire day walking around the medina and I’m sure only saw a fraction of it. Not only was it fascinating, but it was a real slice of life in Morocco. I could have easily spent more time there. We were under strict orders not to wander around on our own; our driver, Rostom, who grew up in this medina, said if we got lost, it would take him weeks to find us.

I don't even know where to begin with this gallery -- I took a lot of pictures (of course!), but most were in the medina, and it's just not an easy place to photograph between the enormous contrasts in light and Moroccans not wanting their picture to be taken. I guess we'll just see how it works out!

This is a view from a fortress overlooking part of the medina in Fes. There is a Ville Nouvelle as well, where some residents of the medina have moved to (such as our driver), but we didn’t visit that as the medina is really the heart and soul of Fes.