Today is our long journey to Fes on "National Roads" (poorly maintained B roads!) across country and through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Our first stop after 3 hrs was a nice surprise with immaculate toilets and a rose garden. It was facinating to see the irrigation systems and ploughing with Donkeys alongside the road.
By this time it had started to rain but this did not deter the villagers buying flowers in this mountain village.
By the time we got to our last stop it was raining, foggy and cold but this did not deter Jan & Rosemary from posing by the Lion! We finally reached our hotel, the Zalagh Parc Palace at 19.00, 10 very tiring hours for us but amazing calm and skill from our spanish driver Pepe, who well deserved the round of applause
The following morning our "rest day" (second night in Fes!) started with a tour of Fes (not Fez - that is a hat), here our party pose by the Seven Gates at the Royal Palace with our local guide Mr Haj in the centre.
Mr Haj, a Berber not an Arab, explains about Fes and the Palace.
David was shouted at by these soldiers for photographing the King's Palace entrance. Perhaps HE was actually there!!
We then visited a open air "Mosque" on a hill above Fes where Mr Haj adopted the role of teacher from the official niche.
There was a spectacular view over the city, especially of the cloud of pollution!
A visit to observe the production of hand crafted pottery was very interesting.
Then Mr Haj leads us through the Blue Gate into the Medina and the Souk.
In the maze of narrow alleys comprising the Souk it was a good idea to keep up with Mr Haj because it would be virtually inpossible to find the way out without a guide. No maps available in Morocco!!
David narrowly avoided a pony bite (note the teeth) as if he was to blame for this excessive load of gas bottles. Wendy & John wisely avoided the savage beast!
Since David was, by this time, suffering from "deli-belly" he was grateful Rosemary found him a seat in the brass & copper workshop.
Mr Haj and his mates give us a song! (at a price!)
The worshippers arriving for prayers at this local mosque perform their ritual ablutions .
This Tannery was like a scene from an imaginary hell, or from the Middle Ages, and the smell was appalling.
Jan and Rosemary thought that any sacrifice or pong was worthwhile to make handbags! Although they did resist the urge to buy, well done for two handbag-aholics!
Final visit to a hand weaving shop before our returning to the hotel for a well earned rest. Back to Tangier tomorrow for our ferry trip back to Spain.
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