Fes: Head Of The Shop

I must have walked by that sign in the first photo a million times during my visit here in Fes before I finally go in to see what magic potions might be found there. As luck would have it, I run into a very chatty owner who gives me a fun tour of the spices, medicines, and oils that are supposed to fix whatever needed fixing.

He doesn’t have a cure for restlessness but I buy some tea and Ras El Hanout which he says is a concoction of 42 spices. The name means “head of the shop” in Arabic. Heck, I may not be able to cook well but who can pass on something that has 42 ingredients! The items are weighed on this scale then wrapped in what looks like paper from someone’s journal (if only I could read in Arabic!) before they are bagged in plastic.

From his shop I wander aimlessly around looking for shoes, but some are too small or too big.

So I keep walking until I run into the Medersa el Attarine, which is an old but recently restored educational facility.

Whoa, hold up there missy, you say. Can we check out that jacket you’re wearing today? Why yes, it’s Look 5! My Prada windbreaker might actually be useful as the clouds are looking mighty suspicious today.

Anyway, this is an amazing space inside an area full of activities and sensory overload.

Right in the middle of all this you will find Cafe Clock, where all tourists and expats eventually end up for a quick bite or wifi, or in my case some live music + dessert on one day then a falafel lunch on another.

But you know what’s really yummy here in Fes? It’s these vegetarian sandwiches you can get on the street for nearly nothing. You might or might not get sick eating on the street anywhere, but my first sandwich was so great I am more than happy to take the risk again, and again. More on that tomorrow.

 01/12/2010