Once within the walls of the Fes Medina, we found ourselves in a maze of winding narrow pedestrian streets, and barely passable alleyways, packed with the, by now, usual shops and food stalls.
After navigating through the twisty lanes, every visitor to Fes inevitably makes their way to the Chouara Tannery. Leather shops provide free viewing stations overlooking the tanneries, all in hopes of selling their vast inventory of souvenir bags and slippers. Although now a major tourist attraction, the tannery is nonetheless quite fascinating. But before entering the observation area, a bundle of mint is provided to cover our nose, to help moderate the strong odors.
These tannery workers employ centuries old methods, unchanged since medieval times. This operation is also notable for not using any machinery with the mixing and handling done using hands and feet, with little or no protective gear, as witnessed in this short video clip:
Exit through the Gift Shop
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