6.01.2015

Fes, Morocco

The old medina (walled city center) of Fes may be the oldest medieval city in the world.  It also has the most labyrinthine cluster of streets in what some consider to be the world's largest urban car-free zone.  Also boasting the world's oldest university, there's a lot of history here. Unfortunately, the locals didn't seem to be as easy-going and friendly as other Moroccans.  They seemed solely concerned with making money from us and expressed their hostility when we didn't want to buy something or insisted we had no desire for a guide to lead us through the maze of the medina.  After all, getting lost is half the fun and there were plenty of narrow alleyways (often dead ends) to keep me busy.


The tanneries of Fes are world famous.

Photographers love to capture these picturesque colored tanks filled with liquids used in this centuries-old practice of turning animal skin into leather.  It's a big tourist destination replete with touts attempting to give you tours of the tanneries or kids trying to lead you there. The smell of ammonia can be overpowering so locals hand out handfuls of mint for you to breathe through (for a tip of course).



The Bou Inania Madrasa





Two views of Bab Boujloud, one of the main gates into the medina


Amazing architectural details in the streets

Butcher slicing a chicken's neck

In the medina, donkeys are used to pull carts for construction projects, transport or trash collection as the narrow streets are much too small for cars.

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