On to the Blue Pearl

January 5th, 2021 After yesterday’s experience at the tanneries in Fez, we’re back on the road to our final stop in Morocco. Our destination takes us through a patchwork countryside of farmland, olive trees, homes and high mountains. Nestled at the base of a hill, we find the town of Chefchaouen — also known as the Blue Pearl for its

Repost: Into the Tanneries of Fez

January 4th, 2021 Today we’re going behind the scenes in Fez to see the raw origin of Morocco’s leather products. The tanneries present the unpolished reality of an industry using the byproduct of what’s served for lunch and dinner around the country — which is no different than any other country in the world. The difference here is that technology

Supply & Demand

January 3rd, 2021 So far on our virtual trek through Morocco, we’ve visited Tangier, Asilah and Fez. Tomorrow we’ll visit two tanneries in Fez. The tanneries are something we should all stop and think about. And in fact, many of you did — with more than 20 comments on my original post shared in 2018. The tanneries present the dilemma

Repost: The Fingerprint of Fez

January 2nd, 2021 Today we’re exploring Fez in northern Morocco, through a post I wrote in 2018 with a handful of extra photos I just finished adding. Throughout the post, you’ll find the words of author Paul Bowles, an American expatriate who lived in Tangier, Morocco for 50 years. He wrote an essay called “Fez” in 1984. His thoughts on

Khamsah for the New Year

January 1st, 2021 Happy New Year! Today we’re getting back on our virtual path through northern Morocco. So far we’ve visited Tangier and Asilah, and learned a bit about Islamic Geometric Design which is found throughout the country. I chose this photo for the first day of 2021 because we’re opening a new door to a new year, and this

Morocco: Notes on Design

December 30th, 2020 Today we’re pressing pause on our virtual travel through Morocco to learn about a foundational aspect of the country’s art, design and architecture: Islamic Geometric Design. Islamic Geometric Design is found around the world and once you understand some of the basics, you’ll be better able to understand its value and complexity, while also being able to

Afternoon in Asilah, Morocco

December 29th, 2020 After yesterday’s drive, today we’re in Asilah on the coast of Morocco. Behind the fortress walls, a sleepy town basks in the sunlight — it looks a little bit Greek, a little bit Spanish and entirely Moroccan with its Berber wares and pointy leather shoes. (Oh, how I wish I had brought a pair home.) Asilah is

Down the Coast of Morocco

December 28th, 2020 After yesterday’s virtual tour of Tangier, today we’ve hired a driver and we’re on our way down the N1 coastal highway of western Morocco. The Atlantic is bright and blue today, and an empty beach stretches the entire length of the drive to our day-trip destination. After 45 minutes, we arrive at Asilah — a town that