Sneak Preview of New Hammam in the Fez Medina

Today The View from Fez team was given a look inside the new hammam and spa being built just behind Thami's Restaurant in Batha

The view of the dome as work continues

Downstairs is a large hammam while the space upstairs is given over to spa treatments including several rooms for massage, pedicure, hair styling and private bathing.

The work is at full speed at the moment as the owners hope to have everything completed in time for an opening before Christmas.

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Gnawa Music Concert ~ Free at ALIF Riad Tonight

A Gnawa Music Concert at ALIF Riad is free and open to the general public tonight (Tuesday, December 10th) at 6:30 PM

This is a great opportunity to experience this famous Moroccan folk music with a talented group of local musicians: Ouled Houssa.

Gnawa music is a rich repertoire of ancient African Islamic spiritual religious songs and rhythms. Its well preserved heritage combines ritual poetry with traditional music and dancing. The music is performed at 'Lila's', entire communal nights of celebration, dedicated to prayer and healing, guided by the Gnawa Maalem and his group of musicians and dancers. Though many of the influences that formed this music can be traced to sub-Saharan West-Africa, its traditional practice is concentrated in Morocco and the Béchar Province in South-western Algeria.

Tonight's concert is free and open to all ALC & ALIF students and the general public. If you are a visitor to Fez as your Riad manager to give you directions.

Refreshments will be served!

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Long Walk To Freedom - Film at Cafe Clock in Fez

Cafe Clock is marking the death of Nelson Mandela with a special screening this Thursday of  Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Admission is free

Film  News @ Cafe Clock 

Th ursday @ 6pm
Né Quelque Part Directed by Mohammed Hamidi with Jamal
Debbouze, Taw k Jallab, Abdelkader Secteur. e movie is in
Darija and French with English subtitles. (free)

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Directed by Justin Chadwick
with Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto. e movie
English with French subtitles. (free)


Gra fitti Art by the urban artist Omar Lula

Gods From India art exhibition in the Redroom
Habibi prints from a graphic noval

Sunday Concert @ 6pm
Issawa Traditional music with percussion(20dh)

Clock Kitchen

Learn to cook traditional Moroccan food in the heart of the
medina with Clock Kitchen.Tour the food markets like a local
before preparing a fantastic feast in our dedicated cooking school.

Calligraphy

Discover the sacred art of Calligraphy with the master,
Mohammed Charkaoui. Private and group lessons by
arrangement. Bamboo quills and papers are provided.

Fez Download

Over a mint tea, Khalid will give you the full lowdown regarding culture,
customs and language ensuring you get fully under the skin of this
unique city.

Jam Session

Every Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm except in Ramadan.
All musicians are welcome.

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The French Institute in Fez Hosts Photography Event

An international photography meeting is being hosted by the French Institute in Fez. The exhibition opening is tomorrow - Friday, December 6, -  6:30 pm in the Gallery Kacimi

For more detailed information (only in French) see the PDF here: French Institute in Fez

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"The Traditional Architecture of the Fez Medina" ~ a Public Lecture

A lecture by Kamal Raftani, an architect who has worked with UNESCO and ADER will be held Thursday, December 5th at 6:15 PM at the ALIF Annex auditorium. This lecture is open to the general public

"The historic fabric of Fes Medina appears today in a quite harmonious state, despite the huge challenges it is facing at different levels: state of the built environment, social and economic problems, etc. This urban fabric is a result of a long process of construction and evolution made of contributions from different dynasties and populations that have settled in Fez. This includes moments of growth and prosperity as well as times of decadence and decline.

At the architectural level, the historic built environment of Fes Medina consists of different types of buildings, most of which are characterized by the high value of their architecture and the role they have been playing for centuries for the Fes Medina community.

There are different ways to approach the traditional architecture of historic cities. In this lecture, we will try to give an overview on the traditional architecture of Fes Medina through three of its main components: (1) monumental architecture, (2) domestic architecture, and (3) religious architecture."

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Shooting in a Hammam ~ A Challenge For Film Crew

Riad Rcif was this week chosen as the location for a film shoot in the Fez Medina. The Japanese film crew working with Production Coordinator, Momoko Nishiyama from Voice Japan, was on a tight schedule, trying to get as much footage shot as is possible in six days

The company is shooting a series of travel films in which popular Japanese actress Miho Kanno visits different countries and explores the cultures.  As Momoko Nishiyama explained,"We have been to many of the African countries but this is our first visit to Morocco and it is absolutely beautiful." 

The episode featuring Morocco will be shown next year on Tokyo TV and BS Japan - a huge audience and exposure which will certainly impact on the number of Japanese tourists visiting the kingdom.

Miho Kanno

On a tight schedule they had been in the South and arrived in Fez yesterday. The 15-strong film crew immediately set to work doing an afternoon and night shoot around the Medina and in Riad Rcif, focusing on some of the beautiful architectural details.

Today it was into the hammam. This was not an easy undertaking because of the small space, issues of water, heat and steam. Then there was the problem of finding local women willing to be filmed in the hammam.

Nora, one of the masseuses at Riad Rcif, teamed up with Rachida from Riad Zany and stepped into the hammam for what was to be a long session. 

Normally a scrub and massage in a hammam is one continuous event. Not so when being filmed. Cameraman, Koru, had an extensive shot list and each individual shot had to be lit with the limited lighting that could be fitted into the space. 

Eventually the shots were completed in around two and a half hours.

Nora and Rachida  - stars for a day

The View from Fez would like to thank Momoko Nishiyama and Riad Rcif for the opportunity to visit during the film shoot. 

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