فاس (Fes)

Morocco

Visiting a country for the first time is really great excitement, no matter how hard I try to imagine, assume and even predict some situations, I’m always surprised.

It is hard to imagine that hundreds of thousands of narrow streets are hiding behind the huge city walls. Anyone who has ever set foot in the streets of the medina (old town) of Fes knows it’s a mission just to get out of here.

Most of the buildings here are inconspicuous on the outside, but very impressive on the inside. Moroccan houses were traditionally inward focused, allowing family privacy and protection from the weather. Centrally placed garden or courtyard is heart of each house. This design principle also found support in social mores of Islamic society, which placed great value on privacy. Former Koran school is among the most beautiful sights in Fes, interesting mosaics and carvings and a calm, tranquil atmosphere.

Souks make Fes very vivid. You can find everything you need, from fruits and vegetables, restaurants to souvenirs and leather sandals. Leather production is one of the main activities of Morocco. In the Chouara tanneries, leather is tanned by hand using the traditional method. You’ll most likely smell these before you see them, the closer I got to the tanneries, the stronger the smell became. Let’s just say a mix of pigeon poop and cow pee is needed to make all those spectacular leather sandals that I bought at the souks. Someone from the surrounding leather shop gave me a handful of fresh mint to mask the smell.

I hope you like this little photo diary I put together to share my time adventuring around Fes. Let me know if you have visited Morocco and how did you like it. If anyone has any feedback I’d be so appreciative to receive your comments and questions below. 

♥︎ Unta