Fes is one of the oldest and largest cities in Morocco
It was founded in the 8th century
It’s known as the cultural capital
Home to the oldest university in the world, Al-Qarawiyyin
Hand crafts are still produced in the same way they have been for centuries
Blanket weaving, pottery throwing, hand chiselling stonework, hand carving and hand painting woodwork, making knives, beating copper pans and so much more. The city has such a buzz and whichever way you turn you can see and hear beautiful things being made
The leather tanneries are unchanged since the 16th Century and it’s fascinating to watch the process
Some of the streets in the old medina are so tiny and narrow you have to go down them sideways
People’s front doors open into these streets
They can’t bring big items into the house this way so if they want something like a new chair or table it has to be winched up onto a neighbor’s roof, carried along the rooftops and then dropped down through a small opening in the middle of their house
On each floor of the house there is a hole directly underneath the opening in the roof, to let natural light reach every room
Most houses in the medina still don’t have running water. Water is collected from communal fountains which populate the streets
One day is nowhere near enough time to explore all of this city! I will be back
After my visit to the city I went to stay at a little farm, not too far away
It was a WorkAway so I stayed for free in return for doing a couple of hours work each day
Its run by a group of hippies who are creating an ecological, sustainable ‘garden of Eden’ to share and enjoy with others
We ate together and worked together, sharing evening fires and morning coffees
It was olive harvest time
But my job was helping to sorting out a room full of Morrocan antiques. It was facinating to see this huge collection (I completely forgot to take any photos! )