We got to our amazing 14th century riad in Fez (also known as Fes) after a long drive. Click here for a evening walk through of our accommodations when we arrived, during the sundown call to prayer. From the outside these buildings look nondescript and run down, since one is not to look ostentatious to ones neighbors. But then you walk in and they are like palaces. The carved plaster, extensive tile work and painted cedar wood are all amazing.

We spent some time that first evening having a picnic on the roof, enjoying the full moon, and hearing each other’s back story. We even saw a long and graceful shooting star!

The next day in Fez was a whirlwind of impressions. We started with a large breakfast in the riad, followed by taking portraits against the bronze palace door, and seeing the storks. We went up to see the overlook of the city and saw how it blends in with it’s landscape and got a sense of the size of the huge Medina where we’d spend most of the day. It has a maze of 9,000 narrow alleys with 40,000 dead ends! We were so grateful to have a guide.

We visited craft people of all sorts: potters, mosaic artists, brass and leather workers, as well as weavers. We saw the famous tanning pits where most of the world’s leather is processed. (See a short video of that place by clicking here to hear the sounds). There was so much to see, and we all purchased things. Me, an orange leather duffle for myself, and a purple backpack for our daughter’s birthday/Christmas present. Our daughter purchased leather jackets and an antique Berber necklace.

We had dinner in a private home that had a band, which serenaded our daughter unexpectedly for her birthday. She was so delighted, don’t miss this terrific little video of that moment with your sound on. Afterward, all the young ladies got henna done on their hands, while I opted out.

Follow us around through this wonderful, full day in the photos below.