Last week was the last public Marche Maroc. These craft fairs were started by the Small Business Development PCVs in Morocco and are ending now that our sector is being phased out to concentrate on youth development. There will be another craft fair in Rabat mid-May but it’s a private fair for the American community and Embassy staff.
The good news is that the artisans have formed an Association of Artisans with the idea of continuing the markets. Zahara Amchech of Cooperative Adwal was chosen as 1st vice President of the board of directors. Given her will and fiery spirit, I have reason to think they will make a good effort.
One of our favorite spots in the medina, Cafe Clock, generously offered us an unused room for a showroom with the idea of showcasing some of the products available at the market. Unfortunately, the room was accessed down a dodgy looking alley between two chicken butchers and wasn't much visited. If only tourists had discovered it, they could have had a hassle-free, fixed price, authentic artisan shopping experience.
On leaving Fes, we discovered the grand taxis were on strike. All this meant though was that we had to walk down the hill to the disgusting end of the taxi lot normally used as a latrine where the taxis were parked around the corner. From there they appeared to be doing business as usual. It was an exceptionally long wait though for the taxi to fill up.
A young vendor brought out a plastic chair for me to sit on and gave me a tiny stuffed bear from his cart. It’s moments like those which make the other not-so-nice times bearable.
Back in REK it was still cold although the predictions for this week are in the 90’s. So it seems we will go from the freezer to the frying pan.
