In Morocco's Imperial City of Fez, Magic Fills The

24 October 22, 2017 Travel www.thearabweekly.com Agenda Erfoud: Through October 31 The Moroccan Erfoud region is famous for its date palms. Every year after harvest, local tribes- men come together for a festival during which they play traditional music, perform Berber dances and exhibit local cuisine. There is also horse racing. London: Through November 5 The Nour Festival of Arts high- lights contemporary Middle Eastern and North African arts and culture in venues across Kensington and Chelsea in Lon- don. The festival features ex- Bab Bou Jeloud in the Moroccan city of Fez. (Saad Guerraoui) hibitions, music, cinema, food, talks and dance performances. Beirut: Through December 28 In Morocco’s imperial city Events associated with Sursock Museum Late Nights take place noon-9pm each Thursday at the Sursock Museum. The events include exhibitions, collection of Fez, magic fills the air displays, late-night talks, performances and screenings. Saad Guerraoui Dubai: Through December 31 Fez “La Perle” features 65 artists performing amazing stunts and he Moroccan imperial city aerial antics above an on-stage of Fez is a treasure trove pool filled with 2.7 million litres of history, culture and sci- of water in a state-of-the-art, ence. custom-built theatre. The show As soon as visitors view takes place at Al Habtoor City. Tthe towering Bab Bou Jeloud — “The Blue Gate of Fez” — they feel capti- Dubai: vated by the medieval city’s magical November 1-April 7 past. The smoke of freshly barbe- cued meat fills the air and golden Global Village is a large seasonal samosas made with almond draw cultural event that offers visitors tourists to taste authentic Moroc- an array of festivals, shopping can pastries, which can be savoured and entertainment in an open- with a freshly brewed mint tea. air theme park. This entertain- Walking down Talaa Sghira street, ment and shopping destination the Bou Inania Madrasa is unmiss- involves more than 70 partici- able. Founded in the 14th century by pating countries presented in Abu Inan Faris during the Marinid more than 36 pavilions. Partici- rule, the madrasa was both a school pants can enjoy more than 50 and mosque. Its architecture reflect- rides and 26 restaurants offering ed the Marinids’ construction gran- food from around the world. deur and attention to details. Stucco The Bou Inania Madrasa in the city of Fez. (Saad Guerraoui) adorns the arches and niches and Tunis: the wood is carved with complex November 4-11 patterns of stars. Its minaret can be As soon as I walked up the nar- 17th century, is home to the fin- who sells a kilo of dried meat for seen from the Bab Bou Jeloud. row stairs, which can be a nightmare est butter, Khlea (dried meat) and 100 Moroccan dirhams ($10). The Carthage Film Festival is The narrow alleys of the medina for claustrophobics, I started pho- honey. In the past, merchants would He took me to the adjacent shop an annual event that showcases take visitors away from the hectic tographing history. Three sweat- pack products in large clay jars, to show off the types of honey he films from the Maghreb, Africa suburban life. Shops compete for ing craftsmen were making fabric preserving their flavours. The blue also sells. and the Middle East. In its 28th customers with their range of prod- on traditional machines. Wearing plastic barrels now used are an in- “Every type of honey can cure a edition this year, the festival ucts, such as leather bags and jack- sleeveless shirts on a very hot day, dication of how local traditions are disease, from kidney failures to a will take place in Tunis and ets, slippers, woven shopping bags, their toned muscles were a clear re- being modernised. sore throat,” he said, referring to the other parts of Tunisia over eight fine embroidery, traditional male flection of their physically demand- Quranic verse: “From inside them days. A parallel programme and female dress for festive occa- ing job. comes a drink of varying colours, includes world cinema projec- sions, spices, homemade sweets, The shop was built in 1373 and The narrow alleys containing healing for mankind.” tions, seminars, debates and dried meat and fruit, honey, carpets, was restored five years ago. of the medina take I headed to Zaouia Moulay Idriss meetings. pottery and souvenirs. Haggling is a “We produce various traditional visitors away from II at the Green March Square to rest must as prices differ from one shop fabrics for djellabas and curtains,” after a long walk. The Zaouia, which Beirut: to another. said shop owner El Ouarti Abdelilah. the hectic was built by the Marinids around November 16-18 As I headed to the city’s larg- “We make up to two djellaba fabrics, suburban life. 1440, bears the name of the founder est and oldest tannery, I was if we work very hard. We are strug- of Fez. The seventh Beirut Cooking Fes- abruptly stopped by a man in his gling to survive in the face of mod- The making of dried meat has per- Hundreds of Muslim visitors jour- tival is to take place at the Biel 50s asking me to visit his shop. At ern technology and [products] made severed throughout generations at ney to the mausoleum every day in Pavillon Royal. The event brings first, I thought he was a conman in China,” he sighed. some shops. Abdel Aali Bencheikh’s the hope of seeking good fortune together the best in cuisine, but I was wrong. Abdelouahab A few metres away sits Fondouk is one of them. “We’ve been here and a trouble-free life. Some women wines, beer and spirits. Celebri- Abou Rachid is a craftsman at a Kaat Smen — “The Butter Market.” for 50 years. I inherited this job reportedly visit it with the intention ty chefs will be on hand to meet fabric-manufacturing shop. The Fondouk, which dates to the from my father,” said Bencheikh, of becoming fertile. people and share recipes, enter- “Visitors light the candles in the taining dishes, cocktail courses hope of making their wishes come and new trends in cooking. true and lighten their paths,” said Youssef Agouti, one of the guardians Algiers: of the mausoleum. December 1-8 Non-Muslim visitors are not al- lowed in but take pictures from the The eighth Algiers Interna- entrance. tional Film Festival takes place When I reached the colourful in El Mouggar Theatre and Chouara tannery, I had to walk up to the Cinematheque of Algiers. the terrace of a leather shop to have Documentaries and fiction films the perfect view of it. are scheduled in an event that The first thing that caught my at- brings together independent tention was the strong smell com- movie producers from all over ing out of a string of stone vessels the world. filled with dyes and various liquids. It was midday in a scorching heat We welcome submissions of and workers were soaking the hides calendar items related to of cows, camels, sheep and goats to cultural events of interest to turn them into high-quality leather travellers in the Middle East products. The process is long and and North Africa. physically demanding. Once the Please send tips to: leather is dyed, it is laid on covers to [email protected] Workers soak the hides of sheep at the Chouara leather tannery in Fez. (Saad Guerraoui) dry under the sun..

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