Chapter 8, Page 93

 Fes.  A city of tanneries, the hat, and 1,012,000 people. 

We visited a pottery workshop.

The local Medina postman


A man passed out mint leaves to help lessen the stench from below.

Above and below is the largest tannery is Fes.

Take a large pit and add

 lime

pigeon feces

some secret ingredients  

and you have the perfect concoction to soften leather

The leather is tanned in some strange colors that I am sure a no cow would want to represent.

I was almost more amazed by the number of satellite dishes painting the roofs then the pigeon and dyeing pits below. 

 

For lunch we walked down some dark alley to a place called Clock Café. The place was very touristy.  They spoke English or I magically translated their French or Darija so fast it sounded like English.  I split two burgers, one being lamb and the other camel.  I might mention, even though I don’t have a picture to prove it, the burger patties were actually big.  In most places the burger paddy size is something similar or thinner to a McDonald’s paddy.  Even if one orders a double the size will still be a little less then a typical “American” standard.  Anyway, the Camel was very good.  It didn’t taste gamey, wasn’t dry, and had good flavor.  I would recommend it.  I even found a place in Meknes that has a Camel Tagine.  Pretty awesome, I know. 

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On a complete side note:  It has been very cold, cloudy, and rainy in Meknes these days. Take a look for yourself.  

The top of the picture should be blue.
Rivers are forming on either side of the street.
Gasoline raindows are being pulled down to the city below.
Strange things are happening.

Chapter 7, Page 87

There is a new café down below our neighboring apartment complex.  It just opened yesterday.  Many snazzy elites seemed to partake in its celebration.  Flashes were seen echoing the café with its glass walls.  A Moroccan style rug paved the entranceway like the red carpet.  Velvet ropes marked the entrance without keeping people out.  There is a new café down below us that can be seen from our balcony.  La Tulipe, a café next door, may not be so pleased with this new arrival in their hood.  I wonder how honorable La Tulipe’s customers will be.  I hope not to see a limping flower or unwanted flickering of their neon tulip light.  Maybe they are friendly cousins, from the same family, like Red Lobster and Olive Garden.  Maybe they are trying to rule this hood together.  There is a new café down below us with more included then just a café.  This café attempts to grab patrons from multiple angles.  This is true because it takes up the majority of the bottom floor of the apartment building but also because of their many options.  The café has a restaurant, patisserie, café, glace, and probably more, like friendly non-English speaking service.  I say that in a good way.  I hope they have good café and mint tea.  I hope they have good pastries.  Oh, I love pastries.  I could be a regular.  The place almost seems to close to be a regular, though.  No morning walk to my regular spot, if that makes any sense.  There is a new café down below and its name is Promenade Palace.