Day 100, Fes, Morocco

The guide's daughter 

Ah, a late start this morning, breakfast at 9.00! Then on the bus to Sefrou, a nearby town nested  in the slopes of the Middle Atlas, and well known for its cherry festival which is considered one of Morocco's oldest and most prominent regional celebrations. The local guide took us into the medina and then to the old Jewish Quarter (every town has one). Okay, so before we go in our guide tells us to make sure any backpacks are worn in the front and to stay together. Then you know it's going to be interesting, especially when you find that a local policeman is following the group, keeping a watchful eye out! We crossed over a little bridge to get into the Jewish Quarter. There was a bad flood through the city in 1950, which killed 21 people. After that a lot of the houses were considered unsafe and because people kept living in them the local government decided to destroy them to the point of being uninhabitable. Unfortunately they've left the remains standing, which has become almost a ghetto. We went single file, over uneven paths, rubbish, rubble until we got to the 'other side ' and that's where the local Thursday market was.

At the market 

A lot of women at the markets, mainly to sell goods they've made or grown. A lot of haggling going on, it appeared that they were negotiating a price for buttons they make and then sell to the tailors to go on the Djellabas and caftans. Poor tailor being yelled at by 6 woman once

The price of buttons 

Then local women also come to sell their wares; vegetables, olives etc. Very different from our local farmers market for sure. Took photos, but at times it feels almost voyeuristic, an intrusion. This is their day to day life and we're snapping pictures. There are no other tourists here, we're quite a rarity.

lunch in the cave house 

Next a visit to the guide's hometown Bhalil, where we had a 'picnic ' lunch with a local family, who still live in caves. Granted, they have a toilet (squat, strong legs!!) and power, and yes, she is on Facebook , but caves none the less, see the pictures. Children everywhere following us back out the village, very different experience for sure.