Fes Local Customs

No, I don't like it, but "In Rome be a Roman"... so, I tried my best bargaining everywhere. I don't know (nor care) if I did good or bad deals! I just found amusing that, for them, it seems more important to discuss the articles than... selling them.

That's why sometimes I gave up and left, and... bought cheaper at the shop doors.

Remember: Bargaining is a cultural reference, and if you don't do it you will be spending your money and... chocking them.

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A key component of Moroccan life!

This should be on all my Moroccan pages, but Fes will have to do because that's where the photos were taken.

I arrived at my riad before my room was ready, so I was offered mint tea on the sunny roof terrace while I waited.

Actually, I'd rather have dropped my bags and gone for lunch, but one of the things you have to learn about Morocco is to just give yourself up to doing things their way. If you do you'll have more fun and be the better for it. Trust me...

You will also be offered mint tea in shops - all part of the trading process.

You can ask for it without sugar if you prefer.

You will also notice how many tea houses there are, and that they're always busy!

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Tagines are a slow cooked stew type dishes which are made up of fish, chicken or meat as well as vegetables, sometimes even with fruit like pears, olives and apples. Wonderful spices like saffron, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika Ras el hanout are added. The very traditional way to cook this stew is over coals and they were used as portable ovens for the nomads. Of course today they can be cooked in the oven.

A Tagine is also a very different type of ceramic clay dome shaped cooking dish which can be very plain and basic to highly decorative and almost too lovely to want to cook with.

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Mint Tea in Morocco is quite a culture and it is served everywhere. The green tea which was introduced by the British in 1854, is very sweet and unfused with mint. The tea is poured from a great height from a teapot to try and induce a froth in the small decorative glasses. It can be served hot or cold. It is offered in hospitality and it is considered rude not to accept.

The Fez hat or otherwise known as the Tarboosh. A cone shaped hat, usually red with a black tassel, many believe it may be originally of Greek origin. The Ottoman Turks then adopted the wearing of the Fez. You can find many of them for sale in Marrakech.

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The Jalaba or Jellabas is a traditional dress of Morocco. It is more like an robe or overcoat with a hood. Both men and women wear the Jalaba but can be different colours and materials. The Jabador is a two piece outfit.

Zeilij is a type of Moroccan tile mosaic and there is a beautiful fountain framed by a sandstone horseshoe arch on either side of the lower level of the Mausoleum. Zelij is a traditional art of Fez and the name given to a certain design handmade tiles chiseled into exact geometric shapes. It is commonly used for a number of things such as the tops of tables, floors and walls and of course beautiful fountains.

I was not approached by many "false" guides (who in most cases a) do not really know the city or b) try to overcharge you, or c) try to take you to their brother`s/father`s/uncle`s shop or d) all in one), but to use an official guide for an introduction to Fes-El-Bali is highly recommended. They might even tell you the one or other odd information which you do not find in the guide books, and are pretty cheap (100 Dirhams per hour). They are also useful for navigating the city for the first time - as you will soon find out, orientation is mainly learning by doing here. A city map is only of limited use here.