There are a lot of keyhole arch doorways that are opulent like this. The large wooden doors are cedar and ancient as are all the gold painted portions. All the colored patterns are tiny pieces of tile; the same mosaic over and over again with precision. This happens to be one of maybe a hundred (give or take) back 'doors' into the royal palace. Notice the guard houses - we had to take the picture when the guards were elsewhere...
'La Gare' (the train station) is a main destination for most tourists that come to Fes. It is new, has a fancy cafe and feels 'safe' to someone who is just getting used to a new culture. It is open 24 hours a day and doesn't feel 'dicy', even in the middle of the night. Trains are the one thing in Morocco that run more or less on time. There is a petit taxi stand right in front and unless it is in the middle of rush hour, there are plenty of taxis to go around. If there is a huge crowd of train travelers vying for a seat, just go back inside and have a coffee until the rush dies down.
Ain Chef Park! It is pronounced 'I ns cough' and I can never get it right! This is a beautiful, fairly undeveloped tract of land about 2 miles south of Fes. There is a jogging path around the perimeter and lots of little trails running here and there. We took the children there for 'F' week and looked at the 'forest' and 'flowers' and had lots of 'fun'. The only problem is that you pretty much have to have a man to go with you or it is considered 'not safe'. I am grateful for Naveen (man that he is!) and loan him out on a regular basis to other needy females!!!
This fountain is in the center of the New City where we live. If you went straight toward the hill in the background (Mt. Zolla), you would reach the Medina after a good 35 minute walk. We live about three blocks to the right of this picture. It is called the 'Globe Fountian' because the large black ball on the top of the pedestal is a free moving etched-world globe composed of black marble. The water pressure bubbles it up and it rotates. Being that I am OC sometimes, I can't look at for very long because the rotations aren't regular and it gives me a stomach ache. I want to climb up and give it a quick spin so that ALL sides have equal access to the water...
Cheesy sign... When you are walking down the street, you are usually greeted (especially if you are female) with 'Welcome to Morocco' from miscellaneous well wishers (usually men). Yesterday, as myself, Rachel, and Dottie were walking in the Medina, a man leaped to his feet where he had been visiting with friends and said, 'Hello, please look.' He proceeded to count (in English) each one of us (one, two, three) and then point to himself and his friends (one, two three). Usually it is best to ignore these hopeful encounters but this time we just had to laugh!
