Watkins is in Tangier, Meknes, and Fez

This weekend, I checked another continent off my list! I'm by no means done with Africa, but getting that stamp in my passport sure feels good! Now I just need to get to South America (shouldn't be too hard, especially with my Spanish) and Antarctica (basically impossible unless you're a scientist).

We left Sevilla during the peak of Halloween party hours- around 5 am. As Kayla and I walked to the bus stop we were able to enjoy some awesome people watching and mediocre club music. The drunks were weirdly fascinated by our backpacks. By 9 am we were crossing from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco on a ferry (ferry boat in Spain!!) and by noon I was riding a camel in Africa.

It's a completely different world over there. For more about my experience with this realization, go read "Watkins is in Moroco":
 http://whereintheworldiswatkins.blogspot.com.es/2013/11/watkins-is-in-morocco.html

Meknes: Day 1

Mosques are a shoe-free environment, so we
walked on little mats around the garden

We started the day with a tour of a beautiful little Mosque called "Bab el Mansur". We weren't allowed in, but we were able to look at their gardens and equivalent of a fellowship hall. The tiling was beautiful! I didn't take many pictures because it felt like an invasion of a sacred place, even though it wasn't during prayer hours.

Across the street from the Mosque was a market place with a street fair happening. Almost entirely men. Tried to see a snake charmer in action, but they brought that thing wayy too close to my face and I was like, NOPE.

That guy in black is holding the snake that made its way
around the circle

I still managed to take a picture of our shower
curtain for my mom. (MOM! I think they stole
your shower curtains!!)

Beautiful Cinderella Carriage selling rides at the fair

After a bit of very closely monitored exploring, we were back on the bus on our way to Fez. We were all so exhausted from all the travel that there was barely energy for dinner before lights out.



Day 2: I'm in Fez now. Fez is cool!

No estamos en Kansas nada mas, Toto! Friday was barely a taste of the culture shock that is Morocco. The first thing we did was wander (with a guide, mom!) through the Medina of Fez. (A Medina is their "old town"). It was so, so drastically different from anything I'd ever seen before, even the market in Jerusalem. There were eggs, produce,  fish and meats all laying out in the hot sun uncovered or refrigerated, but what really got me was the camel head hanging from a hook next to a butcher that was literally butchering a camel. Apparently that's pretty common practice in Morocco because the venders like to "prove" they're actually selling camel.

one of the open air squares

The market was a network of over 9,400 tiny streets, packed with over 83,000 shops and people bartering and trading at the tops of their lungs, yelling conversations from stall to stall. There were donkeys hauling things up and down the streets, and every time one got close there was a relay from person to person, like kids playing kickball in the streets. Then we pressed against the walls or jumped into doorways as they passed.

one of the larger outdoor aisles. That's my guide
for the weekend talking about the foot washing
station

indoor aisle

This is what a political advert in Morocco looks like; each
candidate gets their own square to graffiti with their symbol,
name or slogan. 

Donkey loaded down with cement

The 7 golden doors of Fez. Number 7 got cut off. Sorry bout it.

look at them being all studious!

 We also got to see their oldest university, supposedly the oldest university in the world. It dates back to the 800's (using the Christian calendar), and still functions as a monastery. We couldn't go in, but I creeped on them studying.

We were allowed to go into a little house that had been converted into a guest house however. They told us it was just a modest little place, but it was so cute!

The ceiling of the guest house- inside was like
a jungle! I didn't take pictures since people live
there. Front camera wins ;)

Wedding carriage things- like Cinderella!

Next, we toured various artisan shops. Totally a ploy to get us to buy things, and frankly it took away from my experience. It was like we were being paraded around to all his friends like money machines. But I guess it was a cool way to see how things in Morocco are made. We went to a jewelers, wedding dress makers, a textile shop where they turn cacti into incredibly soft pashminas (Yeah, I bought one. But I bartered my booty off- it was fun, and I got a great deal!)

Wedding dresses- the modest ones

Our guide being adorable

These belts and necklaces are Moroccan
engagement rings. The women use them as life
insurance; Your man left? You'll be okay,
you get to keep the bling.

We also toured a leather factory, which smelled like death. And I mean that literally; they gave us sprigs of mint to hold under our noses and cover up the permeating stench of rotting skin curing in the hot Moroccan sun. Then they tried to sell us leather goods. Not the best marketing strategy I've ever seen.

The curing tanks

I think this dude is mixing up the solution

The process did result in really pretty shoes though...

The spice shop

The last stop of the morning was my personal favorite- An apothecary shop! We were taught about the different uses of various herbs and spices, and how Moroccans use natural remedies.

Then it was time for lunch back at the hotel. What a packed morning! Go read part two of my weekend (The rest of Saturday in Fez, and Sunday) here: