Wednesday 2nd September
Fez
Today we discovered the immensity of the Fez Medina. This is a UNESCO world heritage site that houses 600,000 people. They pay no taxes and therefor receive no government assistance, prefering to live as a artisan community that they have done so for the past 1000 years.
Our guide for the day, Hamid, was a font of information and stories about this unique city within a city (being born and raised here). We wandered for 5 hours amongst the streets and alleyways exploring the most beautiful architecture that dated back to the founding of the city in the 9th century. Exotic, bustling and fragrant – an incredible experience. No cars or bikes here (they would not fit), all heavy work is done by donkeys that are as much part of the street scape as there hoards of people that cram an existence here. Hidden in the city is one of the oldest universities in the world and and century-old mosques. After lunch we continued through more blind alley ways and into a little doorway that led to the tannery. This was first built in the 10th century and still functions in the same way – we were able to watch the tanners working at their trade, back-breaking work in smelly vats that had been there for centuries. As our guide said, “it's been the same for 1000 years only the people change”.
Only 87 photos today :)
