The souk in Fes 2

This reminds of the spice market in Khan el khalili in Cairo, the mountains of spices, dried roots and whatnots. In Marrakech a passerby explained to us what each was, it was interesting, the natural Viagra, the twigs they use as toothpicks, a natural soap which is environmentally friendly. I should have bought some spices, some harrisa, and a whole bunch of stuff but I didn't buy anything even though there was so much to buy.            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

One must remember that this is a city, people live, work and shop here. Even as it become a tourist attraction under the auspices of Unesco. Life has been lived here like this for hundreds of years. The buildings are old and crumbly, in fact, there has been building collapses with loss of life. A few intrepid foreigners have purchased some of these places and restored them, others have been restored by locals and turned into riads. A lot are still being owned by locals who don't have the wherewithal to restore them. It is self contained, with eateries, markets for dry goods, produce and meat markets, craft workshops, tanneries and a communal oven. I was led by a local to see the communal oven for a few dirhams to the master baker. That was interesting. Just as I went into the communal oven, I came out and I couldn't find Sophie. A guy told me, your friend just left. I tried to look for her but found myself in the meat and produce market. I felt a little overwhelmed, scared and claustrophobic and I ran outside the souk and waited for her to show up. I was outside the main entrance, she tried to look for me but parked herself in the restaurant just inside the main gate. I finally decided to give it one more look before I headed back to the hotel and I found her sitting at the restaurant, drinking mint tea and writing her postcards. I never felt this way before, I was overwhelmed, it was too much for me. Be warned when you do come and visit, it can get a bit much.