Day three and it was time to hit our first Moroccan medina. Fes al Bali is the mother of all medinas, with thousands upon thousands of streets, allies, and shops. We made what was to be the wisest decision of our whole holiday and hired a guide to take us around the old markets. Guides cost only a few pounds, so they are well worth the investment. Our brilliant youth hostel organised an accredited guide for us, and we had the option of having him for a half or full day. We found that a half day was sufficient to see all the major sights, and the Medina is so wearing, I don't think we could have coped with any more than this.
The tanneries are undoubtedly the best sights to see in Fes al Bali, where they use practices dating back to the Medieval era--you'll certainly believe me once you've seen it! If you follow your nose, you'll end up in the vicinity of the tanneries, but you'll never find how to get there without a guide, so get one! Just so long as you manage to suppress your urge to retch from the smell of the tanning pits, you'll get some great pictures out of the experience--yes, it's definitely an experience. Our guide hustled us along allies, seemingly knowing every man in sight, and soon treated us to a Moroccan apothecary shop, which was extortionately priced but worth it for the lesson we were given in Moroccan makeup! Next we followed him into a treasure trove of a shop, full of silver tea pots and lanterns, after which we somehow managed to end up dressed in the most repulsive clothes Morocco has to offer in a local clothes store. I've no idea why we're looking so happy in the photo below.
Heading into Fes's medina, you immediately feel yourself dealing with your fight-or-flight instincts--you're totally overwhelmed, but it's so amazing! Around one corner you'll be enticed by the sight of dozens of multicoloured nougat stalls, whilst around the next you'll be repulsed, as you find you've wandered into butchers' alley, full of sheep heads, brains, and cow carcasses. Mmmm, nice. Gosh, and after all that, we had to go and sit down and have a good cup of tea, sadly, mint--ick.
Locations Visited: Fes al Bali