Category Archives: Morocco

Morocco

We went for a visit to oldest hand made tile factory in Fes Morocco

We were fortunate to be able to take a tour of the oldest tile factory in morocco, which is located in the city of Fes and is called the Art Naji. We were met by one of the workers who was happy to take us for a tour of the facility which has maintained the art of the ancient craft of pottery and mosaic (Zellige) since 1930.

Our tour guide at the Fez factory

This family run business is known for its amazing craftsmanship and has proved its artistic expertise in the field of pottery and mosaics. All the tiles and work is done completely by hand using ancient processes that makes the tiles unique. The workers were very proud and happy to show us the process and their work. 

One of the workers stopped and showed us how he makes the hand painted pottery which is completely made on site.

The work begins with clay that is located in a special area that is used to make the pots. This clay is apparently special and provides a quality product.

Art Naji is a 3rd generation family business and has been working on handicraft pottery and accessories for decades. It is also the biggest facility of handmade pottery in Morocco with over 4000 square meter space dedicated to a pottery studio for different workshops in Morocco. It was interesting to see how each small individual tile is handmade and cut individually. It is long and painstaking process which they take pride in doing.

Worker forming and shaping the small individual tiles

There are rows of workers each making unique and special handmade tiles for different projects that are being made.

The small tiles are then constructed into larger designs making everything from tables, pots, fountains and even building tiles for  facades. We walked through the different areas of the factory looking at the many different processes being done.

Forming clay pots
Hand painting of the clay pots and bowls

Some workers have over 40 years working in the factory and are known as the most talented and professional tile makers in Morocco.

Worker making a tagine pot

It is truly amazing to think that they have adapted to modern life and yet they have maintained the traditional tile making as a viable business. Fountains are made by inserting each small handmade tile into a mold system which is then used to create the fountain.

Back part of the fountain being molded and prepared for hand made tiles
Some of the finished fountains and tiles

We saw some spectacular pieces of pottery and tile work. Everything was made with exact details and you could see the quality of the pieces. 

Some finished pieces

The tiles are specially made for different projects including the facade of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. They ship their tiles and products globally around the world. 

We truly enjoyed exploring and visiting this factory. It was a very unique and interesting tour. Their focus of handmade and quality tiles has survived over the generations in this world of mast production. It truly is a piece of art!

“السفر يجعلك متواضعا ، ترى ما هي القطعة الصغيرة التي تشغلها في العالم.”

 

Morocco

The Hassan II Mosque in Cassablanca Morocco

We went to Casablanca and explored the Hassan II Mosque located on a 9-hectare (22-acre) complex that is situated between the harbor and the El Hank lighthouse. It is located beside the Atlantic ocean shoreline. 

It is the second largest functioning mosque in Africa and is the 14th largest in the world. The outside of the mosque is quite impressive and large. The mosque was built over a seven-year period and was completed in 1989. It was ready for Hassan II’s 60th birthday.

Arches on the exterior of the mosque
View of the Mosque with the plaza area in the forefront.
View of the plaza from outside the mosque

The minaret stands impressively high and is the second tallest minaret in the world at 210 metres (689 ft). 

Shelley on the plaza near the Atlantic Ocean

We were fortunate to be able to enter this amazing mosque and explore the interior. We removed our shoes and entered into the mosque. 

Shelley in the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

The interior was quite large and with large ornate pillars that made it look even more impressive. 

The marble floors were like a mirror and beautifully maintained. 

We walked around the mosque admiring the architecture and exploring the different areas. There were  an area where worshipers washed and prepare before the prayers. 

Fountain area for washing before prayer
Ceiling area above the fountain area.
One of the doors of the mosque

It was fantastic visiting Hassan II Mosque and exploring the interior. It was a memorable day and a great experience.

“استمتع بالحياة – تحصل على واحد فقط”

 

Morocco

Archological site of Volubilis

We went to see and explore the Roman ruins at Volubilis in Morocco. This site was excavated by the French during their rule over French Morocco between 1912 and 1955.  Apparently the French army undertook scientific explorations as early as the 1830s and by the 1850s it was fashionable for French army officers to investigate Roman remains during their leave and spare time. By the late 19th century French archaeologists were undertaking an effort to uncover Volubilis through excavations and restorations of this archaeological site.

Built in a fertile agricultural area, Volubilis was developed from the 1st century BC onward as a Berber, then proto-Carthaginian, settlement before being the capital of the kingdom of Mauretania. It grew rapidly under Roman rule from the 1st century AD onward and expanded to cover about 42 hectares (100 acres) with a 2.6 km (1.6 mi) circuit of walls. 

There were lots of areas of Volubilis that remained fairly well preserved. We were able to walk freely throughout the ruins and explore the site. We came to some ruins that still had the original floor mosaic tiles in place. The details and design were ornate and beautiful

Mosaic floor of Volubilis in Morocco known as the Mosaic of the Labours of Hercules.

The details of the mosaic floors were quite unique with designs and images of people and animals. We continued exploring the ruins and came to some large pieces that were still standing after all these centuries.

Shelley in the Volubilis ruins in Morocco

Ray stopped to take a rest and enjoyed a seat on one of the 1st century pillar bases in Volubilis.

 

The Arch of Caracalla in Volubilis

This arch of Caracalla which stood somewhat by itself in the ruins was quite impressive. It was built in honour of the emperor Caracalla.

Opposite side of the Arch of Caracalla
Ray taking in the moment

We walked through the ruins and imagined the history and lives that lived here over the centuries. There was a main road system that ran the entire length of Volubilis.

In the centre of the Road were flat stones that covered a ditch which was used for water and sewer run off. It was quite advanced for the times and overall the site was very impressive.

We had a very enjoyable time exploring Volubilis.

“دراسة التاريخ ق بداية الحكمة”-Jean Bodin

Morocco

Fez, Royal Palace and the Medina

We spent the day exploring Fez which is the second largest city in Morocco and considered as the the “Mecca of the West” and the “Athens of Africa”. The city was first founded in 789 and has a rich and interesting history. Our first stop was at a lookout that provided us with amazing views of Fez. We walked along the wall and looked at the different views of the city. It truly is a large and unique city.

After admiring the beautiful vistas, we headed to the Royal Palace in Fez. The 80-hectare Dar al-Makhzen known as the Royal Palace has some ornate gates which were built in 1969.

Front of the Royal Palace in Fez
Ray and Shelley in front of the Royal Palace doors

They are the main feature visible to the public, the grounds are not open to the public. The Palace and grounds are still used by the King of Morocco when he is visiting the city.

After visiting the Royal Palace we went to the UNESCO world site, the Medina of Fez. It has 9400 narrow alleyways and streets which would make it very easy to get lost. We were fortunate to have a local guide who lived in the Medina most of his life. 

Our guide explaining the Medina

It was very interesting walking though the Medina, there are no motorcycles or vehicles of any kind permitted in the Medina. In fact the Medina is the largest vehicle free zone in the world. The only way to move merchandise or supplies is by donkey or pushcart. We began our walk in a larger area of the Medina where the alleyway was wider than most.

Ray and Shelley in the Medina of Fez

As we walked along it wasn’t long before we found ourselves in narrow alleyways.

We followed our guide through these very narrow alleyways and explored unique areas of the Medina.

Our guide leading us through one of the narrow alleyways in the Medina

Some of the alleyways were completely covered and it felt like walking through a narrow tunnel.

The Medina has over eight kilometers of city walls and has an estimated population of 200,000 living within the Medina. Each area has a mosque, school and other traditional services. It felt like we were walking back in time to centuries earlier.

Each alleyway had a marker which indicated the name of the alley.

The doors of homes were unique and had two door knockers. One was set higher and made a different sound, which was for non family visitors. This provided a unique sound letting the homeowner know it was not family. The second knocker lower into the door was for family who were familiar members of the home.

Traditional door of a home within the Medina of Fez

The Medina of Fez is considered as one of the most extensive and best conserved historic cities of the Arab-Muslim world. We walked along the unpaved alleys and spaces which seemed to have frozen in time and not been destroyed by modern times. This was an amazing feeling to wander the alleys and see people still making products by hand and selling products made right in the Medina.

Metal pots and copper pots being made on site and sold in the Medina

The people living inside the Medina walls also buy food and merchandise within the Medina. We came across many vendors of different foods.

Olives and other pickled items for sale at one vendor in the Medina

There was even camel meat for sale at one or two specialty shops. The shops would displayed the heads of the dead camels to advertise the fresh camel meat.

We eventually walked to the area of the dye-pits and to the tannery inside the Medina.

Material and wool being dyed by hand in the dye pits of the Medina

Wool being dried above us as we walk through an area of the Medina

We then went to the largest and oldest tannery in the city called the Chouara Tannery, which is located in the Medina. It is believed that this tannery has been operational since before the 12th century. The tanning industry in the Medina has been operating basically the same since the early centuries. There are round stones that are hollowed out and filled with dye or other white liquids for softening the leather hides.

View of the Tannery with the hollowed out stone vats used for the tanning process.
Leather hung to dry naturally

It was interesting to see the process and to walk through the store looking at the amazing hand crafted leather goods. After a few hours in the alleyways of the Medina we stopped for lunch. We enjoyed the time to sit and relax while taking in the aromas and sounds of the Medina.

The local food was delicious and overall it was surreal experience. After lunch we continued our exploration of the Medina for a while before heading out to start our next adventure. We really enjoyed our time exploring and walking through the Medina of Fez.

“لا تدع الخوف يمنعك من تجربة أشياء جديدة واستكشاف العالم”

 

Morocco

Off to the Sahara

We headed out into the Sahara to spend a night in a dessert Berber camp. The trip started by heading out either on a hour and half camel ride or go by Jeep through the dessert sands to the camp. We decided to try both ways so Shelley took the camel ride out to the camp and Ray went by jeep.  

The camels were lined up in groups of four or five and tethered together. The guide was very helpful and ensured eveyone got on ok and was comfortable.

Shelley was wearing her keffiyeh scarf and ready to head out on camel back.

 

Shelley on the camel ready to head to the Berber Camp site.

The trip on camel back was a slow paced walk allowing time to take in the views and experience the Sahara. It was quite the experience seeing the vastness of the Sahara. It is the World’s largest and most extensive hot desert in the world. The desert covers an area of 3.6 million square miles. 

Ray took a 4 X 4 ride out through the dessert reaching the Berber camp earlier than Shelley.

View of the berber camp from atop a nearby sand dune.

This gave him time to climb up a large sand dune and admire the sunset.

View of the dunes as the sun was setting.

We enjoyed a great evening having a traditional meal then taking in a bonfire with Berber singing and dancing before heading to our tent for the night.

Carpets lining the tents in the Sahara

The stars were amazing and we enjoyed an excellent evening under the stars. 

 

It was a very memorable time in the Sahara and we enjoyed this unique experience very much. 

“تبدأ الحياة على حافة منطقة الراحة الخاصة بك”