To get to Azrou, we first walked to the grand taxi station to get a couple taxis. It ended up that we all piled into two regular sized cars (5 in one and 6 in another). We drove through the town and to the place where people usually start their hike. We hiked for a couple hours and even climbed a huge hill to get a good view of the other hills. We then hiked back to our starting point and climbed back into the cab. The cab driver stopped for us so that we could get out and take pictures with monkeys. There were many monkeys, and it was easy to get pictures with them because other tourists were feeding them. We then headed back to Ifrane and got supper at the market.
There was originally 12 people who were to going to go Fes, but when we left, only 5 came. Since the was only 5 of us instead of 12 we had to send one of the cab drivers away. I felt terrible for the cab driver, but there was not much we could do. When we got to Fes, we took two cabs to the medina.
The medina was really nice except for all the scam artists who kept trying to let them give us a tour. Eventually one of them showed us to the tanneries, and when he was done of course he wanted a tip, so we gave him some money, but he wanted more. I was not going give him any more than I did, but others in the group gave him more. What I learned from that experience is to ignore those people and if they keep insisting on showing you places to ask them to show you to the police station.
The tannery was great. It was cool to see people treating animal hides in the way they did it in the old days. The salesperson that showed us to the top and explained the whole process to us was excellent. When we were done looking at the tannery, we went down into the store, and a salesperson showed us how to check and make sure something is leather. He held a lighter to a bag for at least a minute while explaining if you buy leather in the medina to try and burn the leather to be sure it is real. This salesperson was the one that I bartered for my jacket with.
He started the bartering at 3500 dirhams, and I eventually got it for 2600 dirhams. 2600 dirhams is roughly $350 Canadian, and that makes this jacket the third most expensive thing I have ever bought (excluding school expenses). I still do not know how much of a premium I paid, but I am researching it.
After the tannery, we went out to a couple museums and a garden. The first museum was okay, but not too terribly exciting. We then went to this impressive garden and took pictures with the bamboo forest, and some other unusual plants. The next thing we did was go to an armament museum. It had weapons from all ages and countries. There were guns taller than me and swords that were also taller than me. Overall I'd say the last museum was one of the best sites.
We then went for supper at a restaurant in the medina called Dar Tajine. It was good food, but we did not have tajine.
This weekend I will be going to some other sites close by.
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