The rarely seen, but supremely talented, motorcycle dog
Morocco is an amazing country. I’m quite convinced I could live there. There’s so many sights and sounds and so much architecture and hubbub that there’s no way to do it justice in only a few photos. Which is why I took thousands of them. I spent so much time with the camera stuck to my face that almost every picture taken of me is one of me taking a picture. And I’m not even a photographer! (Not yet anyway. I’m working on it.)
After culling through all the pictures and breaking them down by city, I noticed a theme. I had taken an inordinate number of pictures of animals in the Fes medina. And here they are…
In the Fes medina, it’s all about the donkey.
Some countries are dog countries (Chile, France); some countries are cat countries (Turkey, France) and with some countries it’s the donkey. In the Fes Medina, the alleys or roads are very narrow, there are no cars, and everything gets in and out by way of donkey.
My guide (left) saving my life yet again from certain donkey death.
I learned the word “Galat!” almost immediately. It means “Look out!” and it’s usually followed by a scene like this.
It’s hard not to take a picture of a dangling sheep head.
It’s not about the sheep, that’s for sure. Especially the head. Because people like to eat them. Every culture is different. I remember visiting Japan and taking lots of pictures of the gas station because the hose dropped out of the roof. So it was in Morocco whenever I saw a nice collection of sheep heads.
A nice array of sheep heads.
This is the way to travel in the medina
If you prefer to purchase in bulk, you can negotiate for an entire tray.
If you can manage it, the best way to navigate the medina is by horse. People get out of your way, you can see better. And you get your own knocker. The doors in Morocco – before the market for them was so feverish and people didn’t sell them, but rather used them as doors – had two knockers: one for people on foot and one for those on horse.
A young boy tries to decide what’s for dinner.
This kid just can’t decide which one he wants for dinner. Next to the sheep, with their heads always lopped off and lying around on trays, the chicken doesn’t fare much better. At least they get to to keep their heads for a little while.
A cat listens to the call to prayer
Next to the donkey in numbers, it’s cats. I saw lots and lots of cats in the Fes medina. I’m pretty sure I caught this one just before he could execute his plan of attacking me from above.
A mother and her kittens enjoy the comforts of a luggage store
The kittens were cute, but the mom, not so much. Big hisser that one. You won’t find any rats in the medina, I’m guessing.
The rarely seen, but supremely talented, motorcycle dog
I didn’t see many dogs, and those I did see weren’t the freely roaming scruff balls I’ve seen in other parts of Africa—but personal pets, usually attached to a leash. An even rarer sight is this motorcycle riding dog.
There you have it, my first ever photo essay! I can see doing more of these. There’s less writing involved, and people like to look at pictures. I’m going to be doing more on Morocco as well, because I took so many pictures. I couldn’t help it though: there are certain places you go that are so new and different, so stunningly exotic, that even the most casual of things is a moment you have to capture. Or I do anyway.
