Street vendors in Fes, Morocco
Street vendor in Fes, Morocco
Walking through the medinas in the various cities we visited during our stay in Morocco I felt a certain amount of sensory overload. I had to concentrate on where I was going in a very strange environment and that was hard enough, even with a tour guide watching out for each one of us. Then there was the problem of twisting lanes and narrow streets crowded with shoppers; the bustling mass of people is something we only occasionally experience here in Australia.
Then there was the aromas of all the different foods on sale, from chickens to fish to spices and on to vegetables, fruits, pastries and a whole raft of smells with which I was quite unfamiliar. The kaleidoscope of colours added further to the onslaught on my senses plus the pulsating noises everywhere.
Quite an experience really.
Street vendor in Fes, Morocco
Jewish Synagogue in Fes, Morocco
Jewish Synagogue in Fes, Morocco
Before touring Morocco I was not aware of the large Jewish influences on the history of the country. I was quite surprised to learn that there are Jewish quarters in many of the large cities, including Fes. During our visit to Fes we were taken to the synagogue in the Jewish quarter. Our guide explained that members of the Jewish community in Morocco have been very influential in the past, including standing as elected members of parliament. A plaque in this synagogue listed several local members who had represented the region in parliament.
Jewish Synagogue in Fes, Morocco
Jewish Synagogue in Fes, Morocco
Jewish Synagogue in Fes, Morocco
Street scenes in Fes, Morocco
Street scene in Fes, Morocco
Many of the towns and cities we visited in Morocco can be very confusing to the unwary visitor. I was pleased that our tour group had a very patient guide. The streets and lanes twist and turn in all directions, meandering in this way and then that way, sometimes turning back on themselves.
Possibly the most confusing are those in the medinas of Fes, said to have over 9000 laneways in a perplexing labyrinth of noise, aromas, people, animals, street vendors and every imaginable item for sale. It claims to be the largest non-car urban district in the world which is not surprising given the narrowness of the streets.
Street scene in Fes, Morocco
Street scene in Fes, Morocco
Street scene in Fes, Morocco
Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco
Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco
No matter where we went in Morocco we were constantly amazed at the breathtaking architecture of so many buildings. Typical of the beautiful mosaics on show in many public structures was the Royal Palace Gate in Fes, as shown in today’s photos.
Built in the 17th century, this palace is still used occasionally by the king of Morocco. Sadly, one has to be content with just seeing the outside of the palace because there is no access to the grounds for the general public.
Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco
Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco
Scenes of the city of Fes in Morocco
Near the Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco
On our first morning of our visit to Fes in Morocco we set off in our tour bus to visit a number of places around the city. Near the gates of the Royal Palace we met our guide for the day. He is the person on the left in the photo above, but I forget his name.
The morning was crisp and cool, being the middle of winter (mid December). I didn’t expect to see autumn leaves on the trees here; this wasn’t part of the image I had of this country. Now matter where we went I was constantly surprised by such things.
Near the Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco
Near the Royal Palace Gates in Fes, Morocco