Travellive 7 - 2018

At dawn, the
echo of the
call to prayer
begins from
the tallest
tower in the
city, spreading
everywhere
Fez is well known for its local specialties and exquisite handicraft
products. Fez's towels are woven by a variety of yarn, from
colorful dyed wool to cool silk and cactus yarn. Throughout
the city, we couldn't help but be attracted by the shops with
traditional pottery in cobalt blue patterns. Plates, large bowls,
flower vases are all decorated with specific patterns and hung on
the shelf or wall, inviting tourists to take them home.
I continued to lose myself in the colorful and appetizing markets.
Attarine souk (market) sells henna and spices, Tillis souk sells
carpets, Chemaïne square sells dates and nuts, Chrabliyines
souk sells babouche - a traditional Moroccan shoe. I could spend
the whole day walking around the Old Quarter just to see the
sparkling Arabian lights, cherishing the lovely handmade leather
bags, or sniffing fresh spices as they drift across the small alleys.
Spices are an indispensable element of Moroccan cuisine.
Cinnamon, capsicum, chili powder, coriander seeds, ras-elhanoui...
waft in the air to tickle your senses.
Fez has a long tradition of tanning and the largest tannery is
Chouwara, located near Seffarine. Here you can go up to the
balcony of the shops surrounding the workshop and watch
craftsmen tan leather with a medieval technique. The owner
hands each person a sprig of mint to quell the foul odor of the
coloring tanks.
Afternoon is the best time to get away from the crowded medina
and view Fez from above. As Fez is located on the plateau of
SaÔss, sandwiched between the Rif and Atlas ranges, there are
many beautiful hills with magnificent views. This time of day is
also when locals begin to gather pieces of leather that have dried
on the sunny and windy hillsides, packing them onto donkeys to
be transported to the tanneries. From above, all the commotion
of the ancient citadel evaporated. The golden sunshine peacefully
shimmered down the minarets (towers).
itinerary
‣ Currently, there is no direct flight from
Vietnam to Morocco; transit must be made
through a third country, such as France
or Qatar to get to the Moroccan city of
Casablanca. From Casablanca, you can start
your journey in Morocco and travel to Fez
by train or bus. Morocco has an excellent
public transit system and travelers can easily
buy tickets online or directly at the station
without any obstacles.
Visa
‣ 70 countries qualify for a 90-day
travel period without a visa in Morocco.
Information can be found on the Moroccan
Embassy website of your country.
Best time to visit
‣ From October to May is the perfect
time to visit Morocco. If you intend to
go for a desert tour, you should wear
warm clothes.
Food
‣ Moroccan cuisine is delicious and
diverse. Traditional restaurants often offer
tajin, couscous, pastilla or lamb/beef stews.
In the souk, there is a great variety of grilled
skewers. Morocco is a Muslim country, as
such, people here do not eat pork.
‣ Breakfast at the inn included a variety of
breads, cornmeal pancakes, accompanied
by jams, honey, butter, mint tea, and
delicious fresh orange juice.
‣ Moroccan pastries are also quite
delectable (but very sweet). Sometimes
they are as small as a thumb but carry a
heavy buttery scent when served with a
cup of mint tea.
Tips
‣ In Fez, you can hire a tour guide for a
half day or one full day. They will introduce
you to the culture, architecture, customs,
and can especially help you to bypass
enclosures of thieves and fortune-tellers.
The people of Fez do not like to be
photographed, but if you are with a guide,
they often become more comfortable.
‣ In the morning, the guides gather in Bab
Boujloud, and each typically has a license
card. Tour prices range from 10 - 12USD/
half day for 2 guests.
Estimated costs
‣ In Morocco, you can easily book
accommodations through popular booking
websites. The price is quite reasonable, for
example, a double room in a 2-star hotel
costs about 50 - 60 USD/night, or about
30 USD/night for a double room in a
popular motel.
‣ Meals in Morocco often cost around
10 - 20 USD/meal in a nice restaurant
with pleasant decorations, and it is much
cheaper than in the souks. The cost of
traveling in Morocco is about 80 - 90 USD/
person/day (excluding airfare). If you prefer
to travel like a backpacker, the cost can
range between 60 - 70 USD/day.
TRAVELLIVE
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