Morocco trip#Discovering old city of Fes 探索摩洛哥的菲斯老城

Fes is located in the inland of northern Morocco, the old city is built along the mountains. It is the second largest city in Morocco and the most famous city of the four imperial cities.

Its religious and cultural heritage have a far-reaching influence on the whole Arab world. Fes and Damascus, Baghdad, Tunisia, Istanbul and Jerusalem are listed together regarded as an ancient cultural center of the Muslim world.

The old city has been preserved for centuries. It has a lot of old buildings and historic sites. The intricate winding alleys and rows of yellow and white houses have been woven into the hills, creating a magnificent maze. There are all narrow and crowded alleys, the wide variety goods, many colorful paintings hang on the walls, fragrant snacks, and spices, leather, silk, wood, robes, iron, dyeing, schools, mosques, donkeys, craftsmen and Arab girls, the children run around in the alley, many people pray in the mosque. You can feel that locals already continue this life for one thousand years. These all together depicts the living of old Fes, from which the living state and human spirit can be seen. If you are into the Arabic culture, Fez is a perfect place.

The tourist who just arrived in Fes all are easily confused by its intricate and winding alleys but fall in love with its exotic atmosphere.

There are so many alleys in the old city, basically most of the alleys have same looking, and the Google map is not very clear, so it's easy for visitors to get lost. There are usually some locals who look kindly to help you with the way, but they usually also ask for money. So just say no, or be sure to bargain.

菲斯位于摩洛哥北部内陆地区，老城沿山而建，是摩洛哥第二大城市，也是四大皇城中最著名的城市。

菲斯在宗教和文化上对整个阿拉伯世界都有着巨大的影响力，与大马士革、巴格达、突尼斯、伊斯坦布尔、耶路撒冷等古城一起被誉为穆斯林世界的精神文化中心。

老城区保存了几百年历史的城市建筑与历史遗迹，错综复杂的蜿蜒街巷与鳞次栉比的黄白土屋交织于山丘，构成蔚为壮观的庞大迷宫。窄小拥挤的巷子里琳琅满目的商品，夺人眼目的镶嵌细工，挂满四壁的彩画陶盘，香气四溢的佳肴小吃，还有香料、皮革、绸缎、木器、袍子、铁器、染坊、学校、清真寺、毛驴、匠人、阿拉伯姑娘、在小巷里飞奔穿梭的儿童，清真寺中虔诚祷告的人们，仿佛当地人延续这样的生活已有千年了。整个菲斯就像一幅阿拉伯世界的民俗画。

许多初到的很容易游客被它那错综无限、百徊千转的天方小巷所迷惑，醉倒在阿拉伯的异域风情中。

菲斯老城区的小巷巨多，而且大多数巷子长得都差不多，谷歌地图也不是很明确，所以游客很容易迷路。通常会有当地人看起来很好心的给游客带路，但通常会问游客索取小费。大家直接拒绝就好了，如果被要小费也一定要讲价。