Wednesday, February 9.  With the exception of one planned day off, I’ve stretched/exercised every day.  I’m eating in moderation, but wonderful peanuts are threatening overall success.

The Royal Palace of Fez has seven brass doors, one for each day of the week.  Pretty.  Discovered Fez is full of three wheeled motorcycles with large cargo racks.  From China.  Visited a very old synagogue that is being renovated with worldwide support, including from America.

Visited a 600 year-old pottery factory.  Very cool.  The demonstration included the creation of a pan and cover.  The artisan only eyeballed the diameters of both.  Perfect fit.  Next were two men chipping out pieces for a mosaic.  One did the rough cut, the other fine tuning.  The mosaic is assembled upside down with liquid cement, meaning the master can’t see the pieces.  Mistakes are cut out and replaced.  I didn’t ask why they don’t just use a glass platform and mirror.  The painters include women.  Paid by piece.  It’s cold today, so many didn’t show up.  I.e., there is no heating. I bought some stuff, including a tagine.

Camel meat is tough.  They also sell camel fat as an additive with eggs for breakfast.

Entered an ancient madrasa (religious school).  Morocco closed all private madrasas in 1957 and nationalized religious studies, which greatly reduced the spread of unsanctioned teaching.  Beautiful building.  It adjoins the oldest continuously functioning university in the world.

The stores in the medina were closed today.  Much easier walking, but much less interesting.

Lunch was great, again.  Chicken tagine.  I also tried a pastry loaded with honey.  Even for me, it was too sweet.

Last stop was a weaving factory.  Very old equipment.  Learned that they use the agave plant to make “silk”.  The agave fiber is white.  The manager joked that their agave keeps you warm, just in a different way than Mexico’s agave.  Not quite as soft as real silk, but just as pretty I think.

In the evening we split up into three groups to have dinner with a local family.  Very interesting.  Learned a lot.  To be neighborly, I ate five olives.  The host drank his soup straight out the bowl.  Perfect.

Looks a lot like New Orleans.

The sign says, in essence, “Be a good neighbor.” I need one of those.

Sign at the Synagogue.

Shaping the lid to the bowl on the left. Eyeballing it only. Perfect fit.

Preparing a rough cut for a mosaic.

Laying out the mosaic, upside down.

The painter.

Fez.

Out ruins in Fez.

Honey.

Camel meat.

Camel fat.

Washing before prayers. We can look, but not enter.

The madrasa. The photo doesn’t do justice to its beauty.

The medina when the shops are closed.

Loom.

Made from the agave plant.

My companions. They just blend right in with the community.

The entrance to the weavers factory and salesroom.