There were some interesting differences from Marrakech. The tout hassling was much worse in Marrakech. The women were almost universally head-covered there, whereas in Fès many young women would have passed as European, with make-up and attractive clothes. Fès seemed to have more active creative activity going on in a way that was visible; wood-carving, leather-work, sewing etc. In Marrakech the visible activity was mostly selling, not making.
We had an interesting time in Fès, meeting up with a well-known Australian writer and his wife. We had heard him speak at the Woodford Folk Festival about his life in Fès, and we had a meal in a restaurant with him, and then a couscous in the home they restored in the Fès medina.
Approaching Fez, looking down from the Atlas
Bab Rcif, near our riad.
Dar Seffarine, our home for the next four days.
Dar Seffarine foyer
Close-up of a frieze in Dar Seffarine
The view from our roof
Our guide Abderrahime was previously a language teacher and spoke excellent English, and also had a good sense of humour. Interestingly he had some different perspectives from our previous driver/guide, Abdoul.
The blue gate to the walled city
The same gate from the inside
Some lovely old buildings
Chouara Tannery
Tannery worker
Girls running through the streets at night
Sweet treat stall
Butcher
Henna souq. It used to contain the Maristan 'Sidi Fredj', said to be the world's first psychiatric hospital, dated from 1286.
Nejjarine museum of wood-working
Weaver in his shop
Greengrocer stall
A negative view of Fès. An article on Substack.
