Today is the last day in Fes, in fact we were up early as we were going to be picked up by a guide for Experience IT Tours to take us on the next part of our journey.

We mentioned to Jennifer the owner of the Riad that we were being met by our driver/guide and she said that a lot of people did not know where her Riad was and often they do not turn up.

We were thinking of how we would be able to contact the company when we were told our guide/driver had arrived.

We have a great time in Fes, and the Riad Dar Roumana was great.

Our driver/guide was Mr Namir, and he was a nice man with a silver Mercedes which meant that our trip would be done in style.

We began our journey to Midelt at about 8:45am after saying good bye to Jennifer and Sebastian.

We stopped for lunch at a small village and Pam has Tajine, and I had BBQ Beef, both were served with Bread, and Mint Tea.

The butcher owned the meat and restaurant part and the BBQ. So we only had to pay the one man for everything.

The total bill was 65 DH

We leave Fez this morning in  about 15 minutes. We have booked a driver to take us to Midelt, Erfoud, Merzouga (Dessert), and on to Marrakesh

We will probably not have Internet Access until we get to Marrakesh in about 4 days.

A walk long the souk bring you to shops selling everything from Meat, Vegetables, Spices, Watches, Ceramics, and pretty much anything in between.

This vendor is sellking Dates, Almonds, and Apricots + many other things on his shelves.

This young girl was on a stand selling rose water in bottles

The animals are the main way to move goods around the Medina, this one was carrying wool from the Tannerie.

Pam showing off the bread or is it really the meat!

Meat is hung and not refridgerated, and you select from the vendor by what is on display.

Pam and I went for a stroll along the small streets to get to the Souk ( Market )

Along the way we met Chef Wan - he was filming along the street with his entourage of camera men and Ministry of Tourism officals.

We got a photo with him

For more details about chef Wan see http://www.chef-wan.com.my/

We met Chef Wan on the flight from Dubai to Casablanca, he is a popular TV Chef

Pam and I went to a restaurant with our guide for lunch. He did not eat with us but went home for lunch.

We had one of the set menus which consisted of:

• Salads ( as seen in the photo)
• Pam had Tajine and I have chicken pie with icing sugar
• Fresh Fruit

The meal was great, we had enough after the salads as can be seen from above.

• Fava Beans
• Carrots
• Tomato & Cucumber
• Grilled Peppers
• Betroot
• Dal
• Harriot Beans
• Chilli
• and more

This guy serves the mint tea from great height.

The meal was very good, but the restaurant was full of tourists so it was obviously a drop point for guides who would get tips for bringing customers to the restruant.

Our bill was quite pricey:

• 2 Mains = 300 DH
• 2 Cokes = 60 DH
• 1 Fresh Orange Juice = 36 DH

The total was 396 DH which at the time the NZ Exchange rate being 6.06 = $65 NZD

To put the prices into perspective you can buy:

• 1 Litre Water = 5DH
• 1 Litre Coke = 7.2 DH
• 1 Load of bread ( round and thin) for 2 DH

We did not need any dinner that night as we were both very full from the lunch.

Pam and I visited the oldest tannery in Fes at about 9:30am  - the weather was cool which meant that the smell was not too bad.

The skins go through two processes

• Ammonia Bath to remove the wool from the skin
• Die Bath to dye the skin

The ammonia bath is made with Pigeon Poo, a natural source of Ammonia.

The dye baths use natural colourings such as Saffron (although not much now due to expensive)

The poor people who work here and as shown in the Photo below are actually standing in the dye.

We are staying in Fes at a Riad called Dar Roumana which is owned by Jennifer Lapostol

The web site for the Riad is at www.darroumana.com

What is a riad? A dar?

Technically, a riad is a single (or sometime two-storied) building constructed around an interior garden, often with trees and fountain(s).  A dar is very similar, but it is generally composed of more storeys and the interior garden or patio is often completely tiled, though it may still contain plants in pots or beds and fountains.  The courtyard of a dar can often be closed or covered during winter months, which can make a dar more comfortable in the winter than a riad.  Nevertheless, because most tourists recognise the term "riad,"  it has come to mean any sort of lodging in a traditional home (simple to palatial, riad or dar) with an interior courtyard.

Below are some pictures that I tool while we stayed there. It is a very lovely place - quite mellow and tranquil, and I would recommend to anyone who wants a nice peaceful time while in Fes.

This door looks pretty plain and what is behind it is not!

Once inside you see the lovely Riad for all its worth

This area is actually outside, the space here is in the center of the riad and the house is around the edges. There is a large hole in the top of this area where the sun shines in (sometimes rain)

One of the dining tables for dinner

An example of an old chair in a lounge off the main area

The view from the roof garden

A nice shot of the center fountain, inside but also outside!

One of the rooms / alcove off the main garden which is inside but outside had this great light

Riad Dar Roumana
30, Derb el Amer,
Zhak Roumane
Fes Medina
Morocco

Telephone: +212 35 74 16 37
Fax             : +212 35 63 55 24