Fes, Morocco | Honeymoon & Wedding Guide
It’s hard to believe that it has already been almost two years since we went on this trip. Morocco had such an impact on me, and I still think about this place nearly every single day. Centrally located within the country, the city of Fes is rich with culture and tradition. Every morning we woke to the sounds of Fajr at dawn. These Islamic prayers filled the air as hundreds of people chanted through speakers and homemade cow horns. We would then walk up to the rooftop terrace of our beautiful hotel, the Dar Roumana, where we watched the sunrise over the Altas Mountains. When I describe our time in Morocco, I can hardly believe this place is real. We stayed at the beautiful Dar Roumana within the medina. Located in the central part of the country, Fes is an ancient walled city dating back to 859 AD. The city is surrounded by tall stone walls and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are no cars inside these city walls- only people and donkeys can fit among the narrow alleyways of the Medina. Walking through this city was like traveling back in time, when merchantry was the only way to make a living. We saw mosaic artists, carpet makers, and giant tanneries all of whom made their goods by hand using simple tools and manual labor. It was such a feast of color, texture, and (of course) photo inspiration.
One of our best experiences in Fes happened when we were wandering the streets of the medina searching for a leather guitar strap. We told a friendly Moroccan what we were looking for, and he then led us through a labarynth of alleyways up to a tiny leather shop where an old man and his friend were creating hand-made leather goods. We told him what we wanted as another person translated our english into Arabic, and right there in front of our eyes he cut, hammered, and created a beautiful guitar strap. The artistry that remains in Fes is just unbelievable.
Visiting Morocco also marked our first time in Africa, and to be honest, I entered the continent just a wee bit nervous. But the people were so welcoming, and the landscapes so beautiful, that I soon left all my worries behind me. If I had the chance, I would go back in a heartbeat. While we were in the country for a week, Morocco is so large and varied that there was no way we could see everything. The next time I go, I am definitely going on a camel tour through the Sahara. Who knows, maybe some day we will get to photograph a wedding there. Never hurts to dream :) ~ Shelley Hartman, Fes Morocco Destination Wedding and Travel Photographers.
P.S. While staying at the Dar Roumana, we shared some of our favorite pictures. They ended up sharing these with a UK travel magazine who printed them in one of their features. Talk about exciting! You can see our feature here.
To check out more of our travel photos, check out our travel blog at https://www.hartmanoutdoorphotography.com/blog/travel/