Roman Ruins

Morocco is Dirty

I'm glad I don't live like this. I miss modern comforts, like people who wear deodorant, a bathtub with walls so clean that I'd be okay sitting in it or standing for that matter, a train with doors (not openings where doors should be), taxis with seat-belts, a bed with fresh sheets and blankets, you know, the small stuff.

In other news, Nick and I watched a movie set in Missouri on the train in Morocco. This was not a luxury provided by the run down trains but our wonderful iPods. Nonetheless it was kinda ironic. The movie: The assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

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Medina Map

The medina was sooo confusing that my good friend Mac (2 years old) and I decided to make a map to help future tourists on their visit to Fez. I'm pretty sure this map works for any medina though. I give you... Medina Map!

Fez: Part 2

A view of Fez.

The palace... and this is all you can see of it because no one is allowed to enter.

The olives were fantastic!

The shops in the tanneries. I wish I had bought more things there. Especially some of these shoes.

men working in the dyes

animal hide

First Stop: Fez part 1

A mosque that we were not allowed to go in.

One of many spice shops.

wedding chairs

This will be Kelly's wedding chair since I had one shipped home for her. Surprise!

The oh so popular community fountains.

The blue "door" entrance into Medina Land.

A view from our hotel

The best mint tea ever!

Dinner our first night

Also with our dinner: a lentil soup. Delicious.

The Fez airport and our first glimpse of Morocco.

View from our hotel.

Another view from our hotel.

Making friends

Nick and I made friends with some rather cool Americans. They are teachers in Tangier at an American international school. They told us they have, essentially, been travelling the world teaching at these schools that are just as they sound: American schools located around the world. The schools are beneficial to those families who work for international companies but would like for their children to receive the same american education regardless of where they live. Before they moved to Tangier in August they lived in China for 3 years where they had their son Mac, almost 2 years old and super cute. And before China, they lived in Prague. What a sweet lifestyle. It's a shame I don't like teaching.

Later, on the over night train from Marrakech to Tangier, we met 2 Canadians about the same age as us. They were enjoying a post-graduation 2 month jaunt around Europe with a small detour in Morocco. Skiing in Canada next winter break, eh?

The Tanneries

Today we went on a tour of Fez. My favorite place we visited was the tanneries. When you enter the building they hand you mint to sniff because of the incredibly awesome animal smell that makes you want to gag. Which was a pretty good idea... The mint smelled amazing, the tanneries, not so much. It was interesting to watch the men stretching and dying the animal hide. At one point a man through a hide into the wrong color, retrieved the hide, and threw it into the other barrel of dye. A very forgiving job until it concerns his health. The man that we talked to there told us that within five years of working in the dyes (as you will see the men doing in the photos) they have serious cases of arthritis, however, they continue to work as long as they are capable of doing so. Nick thinks it may be more than that, perhaps heavy metal disease. I'm doing a little research on it and maybe in the future I will have more info.

The building is about 4-5 stories high with different leather goods on each floor. I didn't do a lot of shopping in the tanneries however I noticed the first,main, floor has nothing but house slippers. I slightly regret not trying to get a few at a "good price". The top floor where we took most of the photos is covered wall to wall, floor to ceiling, with leather bags of all shapes and sizes. Nick and I definitely got some great souvenirs in the shape of an awesome leather briefcase and purse/laptop bag. Thank you mama and papa Baker for the Christmas presents.