Archive for the Photography by Mr. Burns Category
Today is our last day in Fes. Tomorrow we will drive to Merzouga in the south of Morocco. It is going to be a long nine hour ride but hopefully there will be some interesting sights along the way. We will spend two nights in Merzouga, one of which will likely be out in the dessert via a camel ride. Ouarzazate will be our following stop for one night before heading to Marrakesh for two nights. From Marrakesh we will spend one night in Casablanca so that we can make our early flight home the following day.
I am looking forward to the upcoming wide open spaces.
Fes Morroco has been a blast so far. Navigating the medina is a challenge and getting lost is a guarantee. Our (Steve, Alice, and myself) first day in Fes was a bit overwhelming with all the sights, sounds, smells, and touts asking for our business from every direction. We covered a lot of ground on day one and spent what seemed like half the day finding our way back to our Dar (house). Once we found our way back with the help of some local kids I had a heck of a time opening the door. The door has three locks all with seperate keys and each one requires three or four turns. I didn’t know if I was opening the door or locking it again but after about twenty mintues of playing with the locks we were able to enter and call it a night.
On the second day we had a guide take us back into the Medina and it was great having a guide who was able to point out many nooks and crannies that without a guide we would had never seen. Many of the alley’s in the medina are about shoulder width. The buildings are about to fall down and simple wood supports are everywhere keeping many of the structures in the medina from falling. It’s a medieval labyrinth that seems like it could all come tumbling down at any moment. Being a bit claustrophobic myself it is challenging but I am enjoying the experience. Many of the doorways in the medina are very short and narrow and I have banged my head more times than I count. However, I can count at least three solid hits from the bumps that I now have on the top of my skull. Wearing a helmet in the medina would do me some good.
On day three we took a quick tour outside of the medina to view it from several viewing points. We also visited a pottery co-operative where we were able to view the local craft. Later in the day we each visited a hammam (Steam Bath). Steve and I went to the local neighborhood hammam, where we laid down on the bare tile floor while our attendents poored hot water over us and scrubbed us clean. I am not exagerating when I say that a layer of skin was removed with the use of a scowering pad. After being cleaned raw, my attendent performed a series of circuis tricks that involved stretching me to the point of almost breaking. At one point I was upside down with my head almost touching the floor while my feet dangled in the air. The local men in the hammam found the noises coming out of me very ammusing. I was thankfull that I was able to walk afterwards.
It is now day four in Fes and it seems that we are able to navigate around. Steve speaks french very well which has been a huge asset when asking for directions as well as when playing the souvenir shopping barter game.
So much has happened in the medina in such a short periode of time. We have one full day left in Fes before we take on the remainder of our visit. We don’t yet know what we are going to do but will likley figure it out this evening.
Departing for Morocco this evening. Flying out of SFO to LAX. LAX to JFK. JFK to CMN (Casablanca Airport). From Casablanca taking the train to Fes where I will be staying my first six nights.
Stay tuned.
