We are up early this morning and head off to breakfastBreakfast is served in one of the rooftop restaurants Adjoining the restaurant is a terrace which has a wonderful view over the cityThe view over Fez looks amazing from the terraceSpectacular sunrise over FezLooking west through a picture window in the restaurantFrom above the swimming pool looks invitingA small delightful terrace is situated off our room which overlooks the swimming poolThe main entrance to the hotelThe hotel is surrounded by a wall and the entrance to the complex is securely guarded day and nightA driver and a tour guide was organised for the day to take us for a tour around the cityOur first stop is visiting the fortress, Borj SudFrom Borj Sud we look across to our hotelHotel Palais FarajIn the distance from Borj Sud ancient Mosques in the city centre can clearly be seenOn the opposite side of Fez is Borj Nord which houses the Musee des Armes
Nearby is a large old cemeteryA panoramic view of Fez looking to the Merinid Tombs on the hill in the northThe city wall
A visit to a ceramic factory is nextA potter busy at work
Hand painting the ceramics produced in the factoryI reluctantly agreed to have a small Henna design painted on my hand!!Coloured ceramics at this factory are painstakingly chipped into small shapes by hand to make the traditional Moroccan tables etcSeveral artists are at work here today painting ceramic platesA wonderful selection of local Moroccan ceramics on displayNext we visit the large medina in central FezThe old city of Fez, Fez El Bali, is the world’s largest car-free urban space and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.We visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa built in 1323 to 1325We peek into the Zaouia of Moulay Idriss 11, a shrine to the patron saint of the city of FezA waterway flows through the medinaThere are numerous rug shops in the medina in FezThere are always plenty of staff ready to help visitors select the right rug!!A great view from one of the rooftop shops of the sea of satellite dishes on the old stone buildings
The Karaouiyine Mosque established in 859 is one of the oldest in the western Muslim world with the 14th century Bou Inania Medersa in the backgroundWalking through the narrow laneways of the medina you can pass well laden donkeys and also horsesWhile our driver goes to prayer he deposits us safely in a restaurant just in case we get lost in the labyrinth of lanes in the medinaWe order a delicious plate of vegetables with dips and bread to shareA weaver at workArgan oil being produced from the cracking of the kernels of the argan tree which is endemic to MoroccoPlenty of herbs and spices for sale here too!!
A visit to see one of the tanneries in Fez is a must do!!The ancient method of barefoot workers treading skins in dyeing pits still exists however today we must have come during their lunch break!!!No shortage of shops with plenty of colourful Moroccan slippers in the medinaPlenty of rubbish is dumped into the waterway that passes through the area!!Before returning to the hotel we go to the Borj Nord to experience the view
One of the few gateways to the cityA heavy load!!The Royal Palace of Fez (Dar el Makhzen) the 17th century palace in Fez el Jdid is the home to Mohammed VI of Morocco when he’s in the cityAfter a long day of sightseeing we return to our hotelDinner on the terrace for us tonightWe order a couple of traditional tangine dishesLamb with prunes and a chicken tangine were our choices tonight
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