Lunch over, the group continued walking the narrow streets of Fes el Bali (the old city of Fes) still exploring the backstreets and moved along to visit a few of Fes’ most important sights and lovely buildings located in this area. FYI: There is one common thread in all sections in Morocco – a bathhouse, bakery and mosque. One of the many lanes had a unique specialty. They made ornate seats to carry the bride on her wedding day and big seats for the bride and groom to sit on at their wedding feast. Families rent don’t buy these plump and lavish seat covered in gold or silver cloth but rent instead…View image. We almost got high just standing there and sniffing the glue.

Seffarine Square has the beautiful Kairaouine Library on the one side, the Seffarine Medersa (a religious college) on the another side with coppersmiths around making gigantic copper caldrons, pots, containers and buckets. One coppersmith was busy hammering a huge pot and shouted allez when he saw my camera pointed in his direction…View image. Some of the group went inside the old and ornate Nejjarine Wood Museum previously used as a funduq/caravanserai by traders hundreds of years ago while ex-Marine and I chatted up the locals. Livestock would spend the night on the bottom level while traders rested on the upper level for the night. Think of it as an early version of a Super 8 Motel minus the camels and cattle.

Another sight was the Dar al-Mouakkit tower used to monitor the beginning of the lunar months…View image. Fes has played an important part in Moroccan culture, religion, science and politics evidenced by both the library and the tomb of Mouley Idriss, the founder of Fes. This is also the most important pilgrimage spot in Morocco.

Non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to enter but we could look through the openings and door at the intricate mosiacs…View image, gold and plasterwork…View image.

Still on our feet and walking into more shops filled with jewelry, past the hand of Fatima door knockers…View image, chances to admire the ancient architecture and attention to detail – windows…View image…alcoves with green tiled roofs….View image …and a few passageways in the souk even had ceilings with colored glass….View image One last look at the exquisite mirrors that would have looked perfect in my bathroom. Can you imagine carrying glass around for three week…quickly pointed out to me by ex-Marine when he saw me hesitating…View image

…and it was out of the Fes Medina with its riot of sounds, sights and smells, on the bus and back to the hotel. We leave at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow for one night in Erfoud with stops along the way. For now, a short walk back to the important gate of Bab Boujloud. One door was built in the 12th century and branches off into the Medina’s Reed Basket Makers Street. The second door was built at the beginning of the 20th century and now that we knew what to look for, yes, one side of the gate has blue tiling…View image… while the other side is green.

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