Tanneries of Fez - Leather goods Just Like Mom Used to Make

One of the highlights of a recent trip to Morocco was a visit to the infamous tanneries of Fez. If Morocco is famous for its leather goods, it owes its reputation to the young men who -- day after day -- selflessly work in tanneries like this one, using the same methods today that were used centuries before. It is an experience for the senses (especially the sense of smell) and one that should not be missed!

Reams of cow hide are treated in huge vats of dyes – whose main active ingredient just happens to be pigeon droppings. To say it's a strong smell is an understatement. As fascinating as this process is, this trip is not for the faint of heart or stomach! What's even more impressive, are the young craftsmen who repeatedly hop into these vats of colored dye and guano as they saturate the cow hide before taking out the leather and spreading it out on the flat rooftops nearby.