Fez, Morocco (February 2024)

Fez is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. It was the first capital of the Almoravid Empire from the 10th to 12th century, which included not only the current Morocco but also Lybia, Tunisia, and Algeria. Fez has two cities: Old Fez and New Fez. The Old Fez has the Medina with 250,000 inhabitants and the entire Fez has 1.5 million people. From a hill, we took a photo of the Old Fez which compares to one of the old photos of the Old Fez below.

We took our group photo with the Old Fez in the background.

The following day was an optional Fez Medina tour that we could not miss. The tour guide was so knowledgeable in so many areas. I thoroughly enjoyed his guide.

The first site we visited in the Old Fez Medina Tour was Jewish cemetery. A great number of the Jews who escaped the Spanish persecution in medieval times came to settle here. 

The Jewish Quarter has been renovated recently with cedar woods, but most were closed because it was too early in the morning.

Wherever Muslims live, street cats roam around because they take good care of cats mainly because Mohammed, the prophet, liked cats so much.

We went up to a fort on a nearby hill where you could see the Old Fez with a panoramic view. .

One of the symbolic scenes of Fez Medina is the narrow alleys. You could barely pass it and you can get easily lost because it is extremely difficult to maintain the sense of direction.

There are many quarters of different trades, such as food, garment, accessories etc. The food quarter obviously had many interesting and delicious-looking foods displayed. Noteworthy were camel meat. 

Camel meat

Morocco is well known for colorful fabric dyeing.

Donkeys are useful for carrying heavy cargo in the narrow alleys. 

Moroccan lamps are as colorful as Turkish lamps, and used well in decorating and lighting their houses. 

The guide took us to a Carpet Museum that used to be a merchant's house. We saw various types of carpets and watched how the carpets are made. They served what they call Moroccan Whiskey or Mint Tea before their demonstration and subsequent sales pitch. Their wall decorations were so detailed.

On the way to different places, we passed by many artisan stores. Some were polishing bronze products and others were hammering bronze products. 

We stopped over at an ancient school that was considered the first and oldest college institute. The tour guide explained how the numbers were created which I found very interesting. 

We had lunch at one of the restaurants in the Medina. Moroccan foods are in general very colorful and tasty. 

We visited a Museum of Wooden Products. In front, there was a water fountain that was very useful for caravans that stayed at this former inn. 

Visiting a leather tannery is definitely one of the highlights of our Moroccan Tour. Morocco produces fine leather products and some of them still process leather in traditional and natural ways. The smell was really stinky and the mint leaves they provided was only partially useful. 

They use pigeon poos for bleaching

In the evening, we were invited to Hassan's House where we were treated with Moroccan cuisines that were all excellent. We enjoyed them all thoroughly, The Hassan family was so friendly and hospitable. .

We experienced one of the most luxurious Marriott Hotels right here in Fez. We enjoyed everything about this well-decorated hotel.

Someone took a photo of us taking a photo. Funny.

The current king's wife  Lala Salma, is from Fez and the first lay person who has become a member of the royal family. We enjoyed our stay in Fez. - Jeffrey