April 19: Fes

We took a very comfortable 6-hour train ride from Marrakech to Fes.  Upon our arrival, we checked in at the luxurious Riad Salam Fes. It is definitely one of the nicest hotels that we’ve stayed in during our 10 month adventure in Europe and Northern Africa.  It feels like we’re staying in a Moroccan palace.

Next, we went to lunch at a Chinese restaurant and had one of the best meals so far in Morocco.  With our bellies full, we headed out on a city tour.  Although we started on our own, we eventually met a guide who charged us 100 dirhams to guide us through the maze-like streets of Fes to the tannery.  There were many stops along the way as we visited a variety of shops whose owners showed us their skillfully crafted handmade products. We quickly passed outside of the University of Al-Karaouine, which is generally considered the first Islamic university in the world. It was founded by a woman named Fatima al-Fihri.  The tannery will probably be remembered most for the smell of pigeon waste and the red dye made from blood.