“I haven’t been everywhere,
but it’s on my list.”
- Susan Sontag

Toward the end of the Design Leadership Network seminar Cole and I attended in Morocco, we took an excursion to Fes (in Morocco, the spelling of the city is with an S, while the hat is spelled with a Z).

Fes Charter - Hayslip Design Associates

Our group boarding our private charter at Marrakech-Menara airport, bound for Fes.

Fes is the second largest city in Morocco and is comprised of three parts: Fes el Bali (the ninth century walled city), Fes Jdid (the new ((fourteenth century))city), and the Ville Nouvelle (the newest part of Fes, developed by the French). The old city, Fes el Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Palatial Welcome

One thing you notice right away in Morocco is their love of a grand entrance. Morocco has incredible doors… heavy carved wood or hammered metal, with wonderfully ornate hardware. The entry doors at Dar El Makhzan were no exception.

Dar Ek Makhzan, Fes, Morocco

From the Place des Alaouites, heavy brass doors, made by artisans from Fes el Bali, guard the entrance to Fes’s royal palace and gardens.

Dar El Makhzan, doors, Fes, Morocco

Cole snapping pictures of the doors details.

Dar El Makhzan Detail

Amazing, large brass knockers.

Shopping the Souk

Fes marketplace

An archway leading into the medina.

Fes’s souk rivals that of Marrakech for its diversity of wares. If you want to eat it, you can find it here… from the very exotic (escargots, anyone) to the downright abhorrent (goat or camel head… no thanks). But dates and nuts and spices abound, and citrus grows with abandon in this desert climate.

Fes Escargots

WARNING… this next picture is pretty rough unless you have a real taste for the unusual.

Fes Camel Head

Goats are ubiquitous in Morocco, and their milk is made into the most beautiful cheese rounds, which are sold in the souk wrapped in palm leaves.

Fes Cheeses

Small fruits like cherries are a popular treat in the souk, as well. This gentleman was selling a wonderfully colorful assortment.

Fes Treats

Leather Goods

One of the most interesting sites in the medina is the leather souk, which houses the oldest leather tannery in the world. Visitors to the tannery (who are not off put by the smell) may stand on the balcony over the pits and observe the tanners working to dye the hides of sheep and goats, turning them into fine leather goods (as we climbed the steps overlooking the tanning vats each of us was given a sprig of mint to hold under our nose as “natural ammonia” is used in the tanning process – or as we know it… urine).

Fes Tanneries

Little has changed in the nine hundred or so years the tannery has been in business. Men still stand thigh deep in the dye pits, turning their own arms and legs brilliant hues from the vegetable dyes they use.

Fes Tanneries

In the dying vats, this gentleman has modernized his process with hip waders. Clever fellow.

Inspired by the hard work of these craftsmen, Cole purchased a great leather jacket. He plans to use it when riding his Harley back home (just teasing). Ralph Lauren has nothing on my husband.

Cole Smith shopping for leather in Fes

“Don’t tell me how educated you are,
tell me how much you traveled.”
- Mohammed

Love,

Sherry

Posted: May 23, 2012

Comments

May 23, 2012 - 07:32 PM Christoperw Reidheadz

Simply wanna remark on few general things, The website style is perfect, the subject matter is real excellent : D.

Thank you Christoperw, for the kind compliments.

Best,
Sherry

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