Fes

Yesterday was the second full day of our tour featuring several stops in this ancient city. It's a good group we have; 20 travellers in total (all Americans except for us). All are around our age and in reasonable shape except for 2 mobility compromised individuals - 1 walker, 1 cane. Surprised they signed up for this tour as the literature was quite clear that this is not a wheelchair friendly place.

Anyhow, the day began with a tour to a pottery shop - quite large. The clay here is particularly suited for pottery. 

Once fired in a furnace fueled by olive paste (cast off from olive oil pressing), items are hand painted.

Mom and I bought a tagine - a conical cooking vessel seen at right in above picture.

We next visited the Medina of Fes - the historic quarter. This large area is a maze of narrow pedestrian laneways. 

We visited a number of craft shops topped by a visit to a tanner. All natural tanning and dyeing methods - lime, pigeon poo, mineral dyes, etc. Thankfully they gave us a sprig of mint leaves that we could smell to counter the stench of this operation. 

Quite exhausted by the time we got back to the hotel!

(Sorry for the orientation of these photos - have to figure out how to rotate in Blogger.)