Faces in the Medina - Emily and Narjiss

Narjiss and Emily maybe only 13 and 14 years of age, but their attitudes and ideas about Morocco and particularly the Fez Medina are surprisingly adult. The wisdom they have is a result of having lived not in one world, but in two. Daughters of Abdel Fettah, who owns Riad Alkantara, they are being educated in England but return to Fez on holidays to spend time with their father.
The name Alkantara means "the bridge" and as Abdel Fettah explains "They are the bridge between cultures." And it is this appreciation of the variety of cultures in Morocco that excites Emily and Narjiss. When they begin to talk about the topic the words pour out of them with pleasure and intensity. "There is so much culture here to appreciate, but sadly many tourists miss most of it because they are on package holidays and never get to interact with the culture around them."

Emily and Narjiss at Riad Alkantara

Having spent the first few years of their lives in Morocco has left them with a real connection to Fez and many interesting memories. "We remember meeting Michael Palin and him exploring one of my father's rooms with a small blue torch. There is a picture of us and our mother with him in his Sahara book. Unfortunately our mum was in the film, but ended up in the out-takes!"
So what do they like most about Fez? "The little streets and the people... oh, and the colour, there is so much colour everywhere." Emily also loves the fact that Morocco is so geographically diverse, "So many different regions, forests, mountains and deserts."
As they both acknowledge, they are blessed to be living in two cultures and no matter where life takes them their journeys will always involve the Fez Medina.