The KBAT's Sabbat(ical): Fes for Thanksgiving

Bonjour,

So after spending Halloween in Fes with family, it seemed only natural to return to Fes with our friends, Sarah and Lucy, for a Moroccan-style Thanksgiving.

We celebrated with an elegant dinner at our riad, with our equally elegant children.

As I have written before, one of my favorite things about Fes is the call to prayer at sunset, echoing throughout the medina. I'm going to try to post here a short recording (by Anna) of it, although a recording can't do it justice.

To make it in time for the prayer, Sarah and I had to fly (well, walk and run in our heels/boots, presumably unnoticed by the Moroccans -- except that they were all staring at us) from the old Jewish quarter (the Mellah) to our riad. We covered a good 40-minute distance in about half that, and the call to prayer was just starting as we raced up the stairs of the riad to the terrace.

Here are a couple shots from the old synagogue in the Mellah, and one from the terrace, overlooking the old Jewish cemetary. (Some Jewish families remain in Morocco and still attend services at the synagogue, but most families left after the French protectorate ended in 1956).

And for those of you who have been wondering why I get so excited about Fes and all of the shopping opportunities it offers, here are a few more images of one of my favorite cities in Morocco (yes, I know I have a lot of favorite cities) and the beautiful stuff I like to buy there.

Some shops.

Some sites (sights?) (see also tanneries picture at top).

And even some tired animals.

Finally, I leave you with some exciting news. While in Fes, Bob underwent a bit of a transformation: He was bathed (scrubbed thoroughly in a hammam and then contorted by the attendant into lots of fun positions. You'll have to ask him about that in person, since he seems too traumatized to write about it himself), he was shorn (shortest haircut ever), and he was clothed (in his new jellaba).

Here's the old, dirty, hairy Bob (with Tommy).