MANY THINGS TO DO HAVE MOVED! and other Fes, Morocco Things to Do Tips

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Don't miss this area of Fes - It's edgy, faster paced, very colorful. I lived near half my life in New Orleans...and Fes Jdid has that kind of beat - funky, a bit rude, fresh. Just wander around the main street a bit - I love the harira or bsaara stalls, though that's about it for me and the street food. There are alot of stoned musicians that hang out near Bab Smaraine, drinking coffee, people watching, waiting for the night which is their domain. Get yourself invited to a jam session in Fes Jdid - the wild side of Fes.

Warning - by wild side, I don't mean doing x with people your own skin color all night to club music. I mean wild. Don't go if you aren't up for a real adventure.

Some tools -

Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Address: Fes Jdid
Directions: Start at Bab Smaraine

Getting lost in Fes is one of my favorite activities in this great city...

One more strategy...
Follow landmarks back to your hotel (or away from it)...

Some tools for your wandering:

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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I don't need to explain the tourist's inner need of people watching (though the reverse is strangely hated - being watched).

Scratch that itch, tourdonkey! Grab one of those teeny-tiny espressos or go for a big pot of tea and hang out on the balcony of the first big cafe to your left as you enter the medina from Bou Jeloud. (There will be men outside the cafe encouraging you to go in, in case you can't find it yourself) Panorama Bouanania.

Check your e-mail too, boo.

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Address: Near Bou Jeloud

This area is generous with it's views of Fes and a way to resonate with the history of Fes without being pressed up against a wall near a passing donkey.

Make it a romantic sunset activity...or a late night for the brave...or really after hours for the hopelessly insane and/or brave (like me)

This cemetary is also in much better condition than the cemetary at Bab Fettouh.

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Directions: Honestly, cab this one. Hop in the taxi and say "Cemetaire Merinides"

On your way to tannery, a good people-watching cafe, Borj Nord - You weren't thinking about feeding a cat - I don't care.

Listen - the water supply that used to give the Moroccan Meowers their water has been diverted, dried up, etc.

Point is - they need water and food. So get some scraps and a little dish and give them a break.

Give Fassi cats a bit of a break, let's us mammals go on an' love one another...it is a THING TO DO.

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My travelogue on Fes will speak volumes (certainly volumes of light)

Let those pictures explain these reason for you to lose your way in my city...

...the time to do this wandering is ideal for people who are wary of the medina at night...

Bayti: Care for the Street Kids of Morocco
Morocco
Learn Arabic
Bargaining pt 1

Photos by Jamal Morelli, uploaded at Studio Shamharush

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Takwin Mihani Leel Harafa Tqleediya fi Beena

It's a craftsman's school which teaches the students how to preserve the mind-twistingly inspiring, beautiful and complex patterned work that has been amassed by the cultural momentum of Fes as it has evolved over a thousand years plus.

The school itself is worth spending time wandering around in.

More on this place later...

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Directions: Morocco
Photos uploaded at Studio Shamharush

"Jihad" means holy struggle and many devout Muslims in Fes feel wary of the tourists and real-estate agents that are claiming huge amounts of the city's attention, energy and soul.

"Jamjam," you cry "where's my highlight?"
Hang on, impatient travelmonkey, the Twin Towers weren't levelled in a day. Scratch that.

Grow a big beard, duck into the scariest cafe you can find and grumble about how Fes has become a haven for libertines, closet cases who pray on the poor for prostitution, drug addicts, American Language Center students and teachers using their "pull" to score some developing world booty. WOW! You didn't realize how many sympathetic ears you'd find? Well, that's why this is a "THING TO DO" from your hot poppa JamJam.

WARNING: While I encourage you to have fun with a little fling at social activism and beard growing, I don't encourage you to stab anyone, as a bearded Fassi who shouted "Allahu akbar"* before attacking a french sixty something tourist did a month ago. That wouldn't be fun, no matter what you think of french people.

*This incident I mentioned wasn't religiously motivated - I know that because I read that it wasn't. The complete story was in the Moroccan free press, who are subsidized by money collected by the Gnawa musicians during Shaaban. The attacker was just a crazy bearded guy who stabs tourists while shouting the name of God.

Live and let live, baby.

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Directions: This could also go under "Warnings and Danger"

If you are stuck with the restaurants, then it may be Casa - but make a friend in Fes and eat in someone's home. Fassi cooks are the best of Morocco.

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