Morocco Day 3

Fes day two started strong with a tour of the old Medina. According to Wikipedia, 'Medina' simply means market place, but Fes’ markets aren’t like any other in the world. These Medina's are the height of Moroccan tourism, and they're located in both Fes and Marrakech.

Our first stop in the Medina was at a pottery store. We saw the full creative process. Everywhere I looked, ceramic art pieces were scattered about. Pottery and tile art is a large part of Moroccan culture and history. This art form covers every surface in Morocco.

I was surprised at how thorough the creation of these colorful ceramic works is. For example, to make a nice Moroccan tiled table, it starts with clay being divided, painted, and hardened in the Kiln. Then, it is cut to size, which is incredible to see in action. A few men were seated before a hard, pointy concrete piece that they placed the tiles against to shape with a special hammer-like tool. After the shaping, the tiles are arranged face down in their table formation to be covered in grout. I found it fascinating how the men performing this step knew where to place the colored tiles face down. I would undoubtedly be confused instantly and have to check the upside down tiles often. Once it is dried and assembled, the table is complete and lovely to behold. I walked through a room of multi-colored ceramic creations, which lead into a room of carefully painted pottery. I bought a soap dish with a unique color palette that caught my eye, and then it was back into the Medina.

The Medina is cramped and hectic. You have to stay on your toes. If you're not paying attention you might get up close and personal with a passing donkey. It's also important to note there is a fair amount of pickpocketing in these narrow passageways, so it's crucial to keep your phone secure in your front pocket.

The Medina was like a city in itself. There's food, retail, apartments, and even a school. We stopped before a small door and within was a classroom. The teacher waved, and I was reminded of our trip to the rural Rabat school. Both were vibrant and quaint. Although this school was far more compact.

History is around every corner in the Medina, in a very literal sense. We zigzagged through a few bustling paths and found ourselves before an ancient building. The open-air structure was completely covered in intricate architectural workmanship. Arabic poetry melded with surroundings walls to envelop you in literature. It's something to behold.

One of the oldest tannery's in the world is located in Fes and I got to smell it. It is a unique scent that stings the nostrils. This is primarily due to the use of pigeon droppings in the traditional dyeing process. The tannery has never changed its work methods. That means centuries of that pungent scent that not even a complimentary mint branch can subdue. A common question the tannery tour guide receives is 'how do you acquire the pigeon droppings?' Apparently, it's a whole market event that people prep for. Many Moroccans keep around pigeons simply to harvest their you-know-what for the tannery to purchase and for me to avoid.

The Medina adventure ended in a three-story museum. Each room contained miscellaneous items from old Morocco. These items ranged from antique shelves to classic instruments. Personally, I was most impressed with the rooftop view of the Medina, where past fuses with the present.

The day came to a close with another gate and another stay at our scenic hotel. My time in Fes had ended, but my Moroccan journey was not even close to complete.