After dropping off our car we started to walk through the old Medina. As I mentioned earlier having the guide was a huge help. He was able to get us through all the windy streets and get us to each place quickly.
The first stop was the Dar al-Magana, which is “house of the clock”. This was built in the in the 1300’s and finished in 1357. This is clock would use water to weight down pulleys and open the doors to show the time.

Right behind the clock house was the Madrasa Bou Inania which is an old Islamic School. It was the last Madrassa to be built by the Marinids dynasty. The architecture is absolutely amazing. The plaster, wood and tile works is so detailed and creative it really makes you think about how long it took the artisans to do all this work. This is also one of the few Islamic building that allow non-Muslims to enter. Finished in 1356 it was restored in the 1800’s.
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There were so many cool things to see as we are walking to our next destination, every corner had all this great tile work and even old doors we beautifully decorated.

Next stop was the Sid Moussa Tannery. Not the biggest tannery in Fez, but a interesting visit. Of course our guide knew someone at the tannery and he turned us over to him for the tour. To start off, everything you read about the smell is true. It was awful! They give you a mint spring as you walk in so you can hold it up to your nose for the tour, while you are outside. Even as you start to get near the tannery you can start to smell the hides. The process for making these leather products has not changed in hundreds of years.
First they soak the hides in cow urine, water and salt. This loosens up the hair, fat so they can be scraped off (pic 2). Then after that the hides are put into a mixture of pigeon poo and water to soften the leather. These are the is the big white pits you see at the bottom of the first picture.

After all this they go into the dye pits and are soaked while someone has to stomp up and down the hides to make sure they are completely coated and soaked into the leather. It was very impressive to see this all. You have to feel for the guys doing all this work. This is really hard labor. We were told the guys work 3 days and then take 3 days off after that, but still a just exhausting job this must be.

After viewing how they make the leather, we of course were shown all the goods for sale. I’m sorry I didn’t grab pictures of the 4 floors of leather, jackets purses, wallets, ottomans etc..etc… I bought a little purse for my daughter. Interesting, he was showing us the difference between some of the leathers camel vs. Goat. The camel leather is much more durable he said, but the goat purse I bought was just so very soft.
Next we were off to the Nejjarine Museum or wood working museum, no pictures of the displays were allowed but the museum itself was very impressive. The details again was impressive, and all the exhibits showers old woodcarving techniques. There were wooden chairs, chests, doors, tools, musical instruments, etc. I wish pictures were allowed there.

Next was the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque. Unfortunately we were not allowed in for this, but the tile work and detail again was just amazing to see from the outside. Was able to grabs some amazing shots just all around the outside of the building.

Day 2 Part 3 is coming soon… Another amazing Madrassa and the street of copper.