Morocco: Fes Day 2

The morning starts with breakfast on the roof under the tent.

Breakfast is freshly squeezed orange juice, pastries, some sort of Moroccan pancake (half bread and half pancake) with a Moroccan cream cheese and jams. Nigel also asked for some mint tea. A great view of the medina with the mosque practically beside our riad. This explained the louder than normal call to worship at 5am. Since waking with it in Malawi, I find it a beautiful and peaceful way to awake.

Just finished breakfast and ready for the day in the souqs.

A view over the roof terrace. It is probably hard to see because the sun was so bright, but these ancient building are littered with satellite dishes by the thousands. We begin our journey down the alleyways in search of a few key places. Note the donkey in the corner above. One of 350 mosques in Fes alone, the Kairaouine Mosque & University claims to be the world's oldest university. It is the heart of the Fes. Built in 859 by refugees from Tunisia adn rebuilt in the 12th century. It can accomodate up to 20,000 people at prayer. Non-muslims are forbidden to enter.

The markets are great, but get crowded by midday.

You must always make way for donkeys, horses, and carts.

The view of the medina from Palais Jamai, a palatial hotel with a lot of European guests. Note the large green pyramid roof is the Kairaouine Mosque. And then back into the souqs to try to wind our way home in amidst the labyrinth of alleys.

Sometimes you have to just follow the ass.

The morning ended with Nigel getting a traditional shave from a small little hole-in-the-wall barber. I think he shaved him 4-5 times each time getting closer than the last. His face was like a baby's bottom.