Day 19: An introduction to Fes and the Medina. (June 2)

Benson had set up a tour of Fez last night, so he decided to go on the tour with Grandma, Talie and Dallin and make sure Fes is safe for all of us.

"Today we woke up and I got ready and we all met downstairs. We sat down at the table and saw that Ahmed made us a huge breakfast and nicely set the table. I was psyched! We had agua and freshly squeezed orange juice. They actually squeezed the orange. In baskets were bread with chocolate in the middle. After having some of that, came a second course! It was two full plates of crepes! They were thick and pizza shaped. We were all stuffed! Our whole family didn't even finish!" 
 
   Next, we left for a short tour. Only Dallin, Dad, Grandma and I went.

 The guide spoke English. He showed us all around the markets. There were tons! They were packed. People would run into you! The town is called the Medina. 

  "We found out later that the Moroccan government insists that their people and

businessmen treat Americans kindly, largely because of the trade that comes into their

country from tourists traveling from the United States. Our trust in the people improved

each day and the longer we stayed, the more we found the people to be very kind and

helpful. Two young Moroccan men took turns staying at our apartment to provide

security and service. One of them served us breakfast every morning which consisted of

orange juice, several different breads and jelly and a type of crepe." Grandma Smith.

The guide showed us some mosques because 95% of Fes is Muslim. A lot of girls wore head scarves and long robe-dress outfits. 

Then he showed us something called the tannery. There were a lot of holes in the ground with paint in them and men would soak the leather in the dye for the whole day. They work hard I feel so lazy in America.  

Then we saw how they make blankets and carpets one thread at a time! 



I helped with one. It takes them months! 

 

 Everyone kept trying to get dad to buy a rug.

 One guy asked me if I was 16. I said no, "13." Then he locked arms with me and asked, "How much is she?" And my Dad said, "1 million camels." He said, "Ok! For my heart!"Talie.

   They return home and agree it is safe for us. We take off for our old buddy, McDonalds for lunch. There we meet a Muslim man that has two wives. He says, "I have two wives and life is good."  We drive around and return home. We walk through the Medina where, again, I am thankful for McDonalds as we watch flies swarm the food and the merchants cut it up and sell it to the barters.

   It is dark. We get on top of the terrace and at 10:00 pm., there is a loud sound that grows in volume until it is almost overwhelming. It is the last prayer of the day. The first one begins at 4:00 - or daylight, the other at noon, and then two somewhere in between.