Fès: Part two... the Chouwara tanneries

If you visit Fès you surely wouldn't want to miss the tanneries. Even though its smells are tremendously strong, the tanneries are one of the city's most stunning sights. Either you try to find the way yourself into the leather district or you simply let you guide by someone... there are enough people who are willing to lead you there for a couple of dirhams.

The first time we entered the tanneries we honestly were a bit disgusted by the strong smell and the view how the leather is being tanned... But imagine: the method how to produce, tan and dye the leather hasn't been changed for centuries...

 

Just look at this man: how he stands knee-deep in the poisonous dyeing colour...

Working in a tannerie is said to be one of the most exhausting and hard works.

Here the yellow leather skins are exposed to the sun on straw for drying...

Fès: ... Part one of our visit to another stunning Moroccan City

Fès... Fès belongs to the cities you should definitely visit in spring or autumn... in summer it can get incredibly hot. Take your time and stroll along the little narrow streets, even better without a guide. This makes you getting lost in the souks and this is how you see and discover REAL life: 

Fresh markets in Morocco are not made for sensitive people. 

You see and smell everything, from still alive chicken who are just being slaughtered the next minute, to cut off Camel heads to demonstrate that camel meat is sold...

It's maybe a bit shocking the first time you are on such a market. Still, take your time and look around carefully. What you see here is the daily Moroccan life which has been established throughout centuries...

Casablanca: ... and read how the author Tahir Shah describes his adopted country

The 'guardian' just published a very interesting article from Tahir Shah, 

author of the book 'the caliph's house', about his view on Casablanca.

Click here to read the article. 

                                                                       Photos by Ingrid Pullar

One thing is sure: if you come to Casablanca to live here, or if you have already been here for quite a while, even if you just visit Casa for a couple of days... 

I recommend you to read 'the caliph's house'.

It gives you great impression on the daily life & on the problems non Moroccans have while getting installed in Casablanca... it's just fun to read!

Again an article from the 'guardian' about the book and below some inspirational pictures taken from the photographer Ingrid Pullar:

                                                                                 © Ingrid Pullar

                                                                             © Ingrid Pullar

                                                                                                    © Ingrid Pullar

Barcelona: ... and a wonderful weekend full of new discoveries

And off we went... to a whole weekend just for us two in Barcelona... 

To the city of Gaudi, a city full of good food, tapas and red wine, cosy & chick restaurants, as well as culture, museums and excellent exhibitions...

And this is what we did: 

we enjoyed the view onto the roofs of Barcelona from the fabulous 

'Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya'.

We went to the exhibition 'A Floating World' with photographs by 

Jacques Henri Lartigue in the Caixa Forum. The exhibition was absolutely fabulous and a MUST for everyone interested in photography...

... as well as the exhibition from Isabel Munos:

Of course we strolled trough all the tiny streets in Barcelona's old city centre...

... went into beautiful parks...

... and rewarded us in the end with tasty Serrano ham, tapas and many other delicious things...

Casablanca: and getting ready for dinner...

I asked myself what it actually is that makes me love living in Casablanca...

Well, one point among others is, that you can sit 3/4 of the year outside in the evening, in the mild air, enjoying good food and maybe a glass of red wine...

By the way: below tableware, the glasses as well as the tablecloth (self-made) have been bought in Morocco. The antique tiles are from a little shop in Essaouira...

Casablance: and the huge freshmarket

We got up at five in the morning and were taken by one of my husbands colleagues to a place in Casablanca I have never been to before... This is where all the big supermarkets buy their fresh food... And at that time of the day the market hall was already crowded like hell.
And as you can imagine its a men's business, so no women at all ... least of all German girls with big cameras... But well, I took the pictures quickly, before I got the strange looks:

Rabat/Salé: ...and my tuesday morning at the 'Complexe des potiers Oulja':

An one hour drive from Casablanca between Rabat and Salé you find a huge pottery quarter called 'Complexe des potiers Oulja'. What can you find there, you would like to know? Just scrawl down and have a look yourself:

For example you can find beautiful terracotta pots in all shapes, sizes and colours... for your garden, the balcony or terrace:

Then you can of course buy the typical Moroccan tile tables. They can be done in all patterns and colours you want and just look super nice wherever you put them:

Just behind the selling rooms you often find a simple factory where all the products are manufactured. 

It's definitely worth to take a look!!!

Take your time and stroll around the little pottery village and I promise you that you will find much more than 'just pottery and tables'...