Fes, Morocco
Fes, Morocco
Morocco is the first Islamic country I visited. I had researched and read prior to visiting Morocco that I may be harassed (verbally, not physically) a bit by the opposite sex or feel uncomfortable in restaurants or traditional coffee houses; because one I am a women and two I am a women traveling alone. As a result, I mentally and physically (dressed in long sleeve shirts and long pants-didn’t cover my head) prepared myself for my first visit. However, upon arriving in Marrakesh, I was never harassed or felt uncomfortable…..however, all this changed once I reached Fes, Morocco.
There was a noticeable difference in Fes than in Marrakesh, it seemed less touristy and more ‘real’ (meaning not all show for the tourist)and many more 18-23 year old males…..hanging about (which is probably a direct result of my harassment). My experience upon first arriving in Fes was a bit overwhelming….to say the least! Basically, I could no walk through the souks without someone whispering in my ear in French (Morocco was colonized by the French at one time) and then in English (more often in French, which for the first time in my life I was happy not to understand another language). I stayed in Fes, Morocco for six days and some days where better than others, not because there was less harassment on some days, but rather I could mentally handle it better on some days. It really was about mentally preparing myself……..Don’t get me wrong, I loved Morocco and Fes and I would certainly go back! But, now instead of researching, reading or listening to someones experience……I now have my own experience and based on my experience, I would definitely go back, regardless of the constant barrage of whispers in my ear and unknown young men walking and talking with me, until they realized I wasn’t going to respond or take them up on their offer for a “Moroccan Husband”. However, If I am ever in need of one, I certainly know where to find one, two or many!
Aside from the above, which was a part of my day…..I took a Moroccan cooking class , which was a great opportunity to learn how to cook Moroccan food. Because, as I recall Seattle does not have many Moroccan restaurants (maybe only a handful), as a result, I have only had Moroccan food a couple of times…..so for me to learn how to cook Moroccan food was a real treat and I hope to go back in the Future to Fes, Morocco to take several more classes. The class went as follow, I was picked up at 10:30am, then introduced me to a couple from NYC who also signed up for the class (only three people in total in the class, which was marvelous), after the introduction we went shopping in the souks for the ingredients for our class and then proceeded to the Riad to make an array of courses.
After the cooking class, later that evening I met up with the couple I had taken the Moroccan cooking class with and the couple I had met in Marrakesh on the Sahara Desert excursion (see Sahara Desert post) and we all went out for mint tea and dinner.
I was in Morocco just over two weeks enough time to become familiar with two cities…..but I hope to return to familiarize myself with more moroccan cities, the culture, people and of course food!
