Tuesday 10 August 2010

25-05-2010: MOROCCO'S FEZ DAY 3

We were booked for the 5 Towns Tour with our driver Samir (who couldn't speak fluent English, he was fluent at French and Arabic - a challenge for us to understand what information he was giving us! lol).


The first one was Imourzzar, where we entered a traditional Berber Family Home, which was in a cave. We were welcomed in by a warm old lady offering us green mint tea and biscuits.


In her home, it was decorated by their traditional weaving, carpets, Moroccan crafts, paintings and portraits of family and the Prince of Morocco (they loved their Prince!).


Samir shows us the art of pouring green tea into the small cups...



The second place we went to was Gite De Moyntane. We were in the van and was welcomed by local kids with their donkeys. We stopped for some photo taking and headed to the lake. We rented out 2 paddle boats, Jainnie, Samir & I in one and Tine, Tim, Vi in the other. We got to competitive racing each other out far. Man it was a work out! Samir was sitting relaxing! Boo!...





We gave some change to the kids when we left. There was the cutest baby donkey!!!



Third place was Swiss Morocco (Ifrane), where we posted our postcards and had lunch at La Rose.




We were starving! We knew that we would be satisfied here at La Rose where Samir had recommended.


The Menu!....








Dessert!!!...



We headed off to the next town... stopped by the road to take some pictures for the view.



The fourth place we went to was The Cedar Forest. We were there to feed peanuts to the Berber Macqaw (Monkeys!)... We headed up the hill on foot. Hearing the movement in the distance and noises freaked us out!




Tine and Jainnie were scared to feed them. The little ones were more gentle in getting the peanuts off your hand, but the older ones, you could feel their nails while they quickly grabed as much as they could. They were pretty smart.


They'd even pull your pants, and your pockets!! And I was wearing harem pants, thinking they'd pull them down due to their strength! lol.




I got freaked out once a group would go up to you scavenging for nuts! I freaked and chucked the nuts and it accidentally hit the baby on in the head. It made a hollow noise! Everyone said how mean I was for doing that - but they all laughed it off!


Samir was being a smart-a** grabbing the bottom of our leg pretending a monkey was harassing you! Tine and I screamed!!!


Last fifth town was Azrou.



The view would have been awesome here, but I was too scared to climb it. The rocks were getting tricky and my knee wasn't up to it. Tim and Vi were up for the challenge with Samir, who didn't have a problem jumping for one end to the other. The boys couldn't keep up! It was funny how Tim was explaining how Samir jumped to the other side where the crown was. Tim freaked out with the length he had leaped over. And this guys was wearing a suit and dressy shoes!!!





Sammy-Blue-Eyes!! Man, this photo does not do his real eye colour any justice... :(




It was a long day, sleeping in the van on the way back home. We chilled up on the roof, ate our snacks, sweets and nuts. It was a beautiful evening in Morocco. I ended the evening reading my book in the room.

Good night Morocco!!

Wednesday 4 August 2010

24-05-2010: MOROCCO'S FEZ DAY 2

A beautiful morning in Fez! With breakfast being served on the roof!


Pastries, jams, cream, coffee and green mint tea! We were fed well!



The day was planned to do a city tour, booked the night before with the owners of the place we were staying at. We got around in small car, Tim, Vi-J-J, Tine, Jainnie and I!... all crammed in!



Checked out the view of Fez from the top of a hill... Just amazing!





The guide then took us to a ceramic workshop, where they made mosaic tiles, pots, vases, plates... everything beautifully hand crafted!


This was maneuvered manually, by kicking the bottom disc which rotated the clay t form a pot!



Tiles been cooked twice in the oven to prevent breakage...



Efficient ways creating mosaic tables!



Time to buy at the end of the workshop!!! A classic tour for tourists to invest in the Moroccan crafts!




Local kids playing scissors, paper, rock! They were so cute!


Next stop! The leather factory!... Be prepared for the smell!! They use pigeon poo as part of the process!!...



We were given mint to sniff on though-out the duration of the leather tour...


This Moroccan Salesman had a Texan accent!!! What the?! Very pushing with sales!



Bags! Bags! Bags!



We then were let to a Herbal Medicine store... The man was funny ans he was going through all his products, what the medicine does... and he had some interesting ones in regards to broken male genitals! lol.



Walked into a once Mosque.... just beautiful!!! The detail in mosaic tiles, wood carvings and marble!









Stopped by a local nougat stall...


Then nuts!!!...




Lunch time!! But this time was pricey! Unfortunately during these tours, the guide takes you to the pricey places! :( Still it was amazing food! Moroccan food is so rich in flavour!






More carpets to see!





Snails for sale!!?...




Hand crafted metal!!! Pots, plates...


They looked so beautiful! I was easily swayed! That's it! SOLD!!!



Walked around the Medina, avoiding to get lost amongst the crowd, stalls and donkeys pushing though the tight spaces!!!




A tiring day but well worth it!!!... Spent so much cash on souvenirs!!!