hand painted doors in the Medina

Fès, Morocco

earth tones

Tamdaght (Ouarzazate), Morocco

satellite dishes...

Fès, Morocco

Satellite dishes where you least expect them...

 

drying on rooftops

Fès, Morocco

After the skins have dried, they are then sold for the production of various leather goods.
 

saffron yellow

Fès, Morocco

All animal skins are dyed by stomping on them in the circular vats except those that will be dyed yellow.  Saffron is used to produce the yellow color and because it is such an expensive spice, it is mixed with oil and rubbed into the skins by hand as can be seen in this picture.

drying

Fès, Morocco

Once dyed, the animal skins hang in any place imaginable to dry.

1000+ years

Fès, Morocco

In the world of handicrafts, leather is Morocco's number one export to countries like Spain, France and India.  Although factories exist today to keep up with demand, to clean, wash, treat, soften and dye the animal skins, places like this tannery in the heart of Fès are still in operation after more than 1000 years following the same backbreaking manual process that they used in the past.

Once the animal skins are cleaned, washed, treated and softened, the final step is to dye the leather traditionally using natural vegetable dyes:  poppy flower (red), indigo (blue), henna (orange), cedar wood (brown), mint (green) and saffron (yellow).  A few of these colors can be seen above. 

Check out this video by Barbara Weibel from her blog for the full process.

up close at the tannery

Fès, Morocco

Here's a look up close to see how these men work the tannery.  Apart from the man on the right, most of the men wear no protective clothing.
 

Fès and its tannery

Fès, Morocco

A perspective of the tannery from the opposite end of yesterday's picture.  It reminds me of one big watercolor palette.

natural pigment dyes

Fès, Morocco

The man from yesterday's picture brings the skins here where they are left to soak in the vats (sometimes for days) containing various acids, natural pigments, pigeon droppings and cow urine.

backbreaking jobs

Fès, Morocco

This is one of the many arduous jobs of the men at the tannery in Fès.  He is gathering the animal skins to take to the vats to be treated and dyed.  Seeing this whole process definitely gave me a whole new appreciation for what hard work really means!

long days

Fès, Morocco

This tannery worker gives new meaning to a hard day's work.  Not only was this a memorable experience for the eyes, but for the nose as well!  Pigeon droppings and cow urine along with a mixture of acids and natural pigments are typically used to treat and dye the skins and make them softer.  Men are seen waist deep in the vats, stomping on the skins in this concoction for hours until the leather takes shape and the dye is fully absorbed.  The tannery of Fès dates back to medieval times and is the place where animal skins (mostly camel, sheep and goat) are treated and dyed and later sold to make leather products.

Stay tuned for more pictures of this medieval process for curing leather!

daily errands

Ouarzazate, Morocco

mint tea

Essaouira, Morocco

Minutes later, the waiter served him his ritual mint tea...

 

out for a stroll

Aït Benhaddou (Ouarzazate), Morocco

Aït Benhaddou is a fortified city (a walled in grouping of kasbahs known as a ksar) which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.  The entire town is built on a hill with everything made from adobe.  Numerous films have been shot here including Indiana Jones: The Jewel of the Nile and Gladiator, among many others.

everday life

Boumalne Dades (Tinghir), Morocco

Majorelle blue

Marrakech, Morocco

When Morocco was a protectorate of France (1912-1956), French painter, Jacques Majorelle, designed this botanical garden at his home and studio in the heart of Marrakech.  This bold cobalt blue was used extensively throughout the garden and its buildings and later became known as bleu Majorelle - Majorelle blue.

If you're a blue nut like me, definitely go see this wonderful masterpiece!  The blues will blow your mind!

Essaouira

Essaouira, Morocco

In the past many people set foot on the land where Essaouira lies today... the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Portuguese, Arabs and the French.  The Portuguese were responsible for fortifying the town and centuries later a French architect was contracted by an Arab sultan in the 18th century to design the layout of the city to enable it to become an important commercial center.  In fact, the name Essaouira means "well designed".  Soon after, this town was considered an important commercial port on the route between Europe and Timbuktu, Mali.

fishing boats, seagulls and fortified towns

Essaouira, Morocco

...a great combination!

always something to do

Essaouira, Morocco

the numerous jobs of a fisherman...

 

a way of life

Essaouira, Morocco

I could spend hours just sitting on a dock watching the fishing boats and people going about their business.  The colors transport me to another level!

ropes, nets and buoys

Essaouira, Morocco

This is some serious fishing...

Mogador

Essaouira, Morocco

In the 16th century, Portugal took over different towns along the African coastline and built fortresses for protection.  One of these cities was Mogador, today known as Essaouira.

fishing on the Atlantic

Essaouira, Morocco

I highly recommend walking around this port due to its vibrant colors, constant movement of fishermen and seagulls trying to feed on anything they can.  It's a spectacle in and of itself!  Then walk next door and sit down at one of its outdoor restaurants serving anything and everything the fishermen have brought in that day.  They weigh what you choose and give you a price!  You can't get fish or seafood any fresher than that!

long days at sea

Essaouira, Morocco

The port of Essaouira is filled with fishermen coming and going at all hours of the day to make a living. 

interesting textures

Marrakech, Morocco

something that pops out in every corner...
 

a magical kindgom of doors

Tamdadght, Morocco

A magical kindom of doors...  the only one leading into the kasbah of Tamdaght.

Road of 1000 Kasbahs

Boumalne Dades (Ouarzazate), Morocco

The Dades River Valley stretching one hundred miles from Ouarzazate to Tingher is a spectacular drive with hundreds of kasbahs lining the route, desert landscapes, palm groves, Berber villages and the High Atlas mountains to the north.  This part of Morocco is a must see.  The contrast of the green and red earth is captivating.

the land of contrasts

Tinghir, Morocco

Tinghir sits in the oasis of the Todgha river valley tucked away between the High Atlas and Little Atlas mountains.  Nearly 50  kilometers of lush palm trees run along this river valley creating a surprising contrast with the red earth on both sides.  This area is also known for its numerous groupings of homes made of adobe creating what was known as a kasbah.  Kasbahs were surrounded by a wall which served as protection when the city was under attack.  Many kasbahs are abandoned today; however, a few families choose to continue living in them.  Others have been restored and converted into guest houses for tourism or used as backdrops for films.

vertical walls

Todgha Gorge - Tinghir, Morocco

These vertical walls formed by the Todgha River in the High Atlas Mountains make your jaw drop!

silence

Erb Chebbi - Merzouga, Morocco

“...One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...” 

                                                           -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince