Full name: A House in Fez: Building a Life in the Ancient Heart of Morocco

Author: Suzanna Clarke Year: 2007 Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Travel, Non Fiction, Memoirs Culture: Africa Purchase/reserch links: Amazon Goodreads LibraryThing ISBNs: 9781416578932 9780091925222 1416578935 0091925223

When Suzanna Clarke and her husband bought a dilapidated house in the Moroccan town of Fez, their friends thought they were mad. Located in a maze of donkey-trod alleyways, the house - a traditional riad - was beautiful but in desperate need of repair. Walls were in danger of collapse, the plumbing non-existent. While neither Suzanna nor her husband spoke Arabic, and had only a smattering of French, they were determined to restore the building to its original splendour, using only traditional craftsmen and handmade materials. But they soon found that trying to do business in Fez was like being transported back several centuries in time and so began the remarkable experience that veered between frustration, hilarity and moments of pure exhilaration. But restoring the riad was only part of their immersion in the rich and colourful life of this ancient city. A House in Fez is a journey into Moroccan culture, revealing its day-to-day rhythms, its customs and festivals; its history, Islam, and Sufi rituals; the lore of djinns and spirits; the vibrant life-filled market places and the irresistible Moroccan cuisine. And above all, into the lives of the people - warm, friendly, and hospitable. Beautifully descriptive and infused with an extraordinary sense of place, this is a compelling account of one couple's adventures in ancient Morocco. Similar books: In Arabian Nights by Tahir Shah The Caliph's House by Tahir Shah A Year in Marrakesh by Peter Mayne In Morocco by Edith Wharton Educating Alice by Alice Steinbach Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman Notes from My Travels by Angelina Jolie The Only Road North by Erik Mirandette First Comes Love, then Comes Malaria by Eve Brown-Waite Botswana Time by Will Randall Looking for Lovedu by Ann Jones Around the World in 50 Years by Albert Podell Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals by Wendy Dale On the Road with Charles Kuralt by Charles Kuralt Nothing to Declare by Mary Morris Street in Marrakech by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider Turn Left At The Trojan Horse by Brad Herzog Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach