A Visit to Fossil Factory - Rissani, Morocco

The rocks are wet with water to make the fossilized critters visible

The fossils in the rock become visible when splash with water

Rissani is a remote desert town in eastern Morocco, near Erfoud and according to the 2004 population census, it had about 20,000 people then. It is not far from Erg Chebbi, the magnificient desert.  After traveling a few miles in the region of Er-Rachidia, we made a brief stop at one of the fossil factory to see some interesting fossil crafts which will actually make very nice souvenirs to carry home.  They make all sorts of goods from small figurines, ash trays, plates, mugs and  to huge items such as tables, sinks, bathrooms  and home decorative items.  

The guide explained that the desert area of Morocco was once a sea more than 400 million years ago.  When the sea receded, the critters died and later became fossilized.  Today the fossilized rocks are mined and it becomes a growing popular industry in this part of Morocco. Some of us bought pendents, rings and very small items as souvenirs - anything bigger than that can be quite heavy to take home.  You also need to be careful with the authenticity of the fossilized products as there have been instances where fake fossilized items made from cement and shaped in moulds are mistaken for real. 

Trilobite Fossil

Several artifacts made from fossil stones

Fossilized Squids

They call it - Desert Rose

Moroccan Amonite

The guide showed us some fossil stone blocks

Beautiful plate from fossil rock

The Artisans of Fez - Fez, Morocco

Carving on a gold plate

The man patiently working on his piece

Rambling in Fez medina would be more meaningful if we understand the history as well as the culture of the locals.  Fez is more than just a religious city, trade and artisans flourish from medieval until today.  It is a paradise of artisans and traditional authentic crafts is all over the Medina.  If you have a lot of time, it would be wonderful to explore the Medina and get yourself lost among the 9,000 little shops but if time is your biggest constraint then hiring a trusted guide is the best option. We tried both, getting ourselves lost in this medieval walled city as well as hiring a professional guide.

We were lucky to have an excellent guide, Khalid, who introduced to us several crafts and artwork available in the city. We stopped to have a glimpse of some artisans working on silver, gold and camel bone.   The artisans are very skillful as they have inherited the trade from one generation to another for hundred of years. The medina though congested, is divided into various sections

Lovely intricate design on the plate

Unlike our earlier experience of getting lost in the crowded Medina, this time with Khalid, we moved from one section of the souk to another with great ease but sharing the narrow streets with the donkeys can be hard. When we heard men shouting "Belek, Belek!" surely behind us will be the heavy laden donkeys trying to make their way.  

Very effective time management - in just half a day, we were able to get to most part of the Medina. We went to the metal section, the tannery for the leathers, the food section, textiles section, copper and wood section. Several names of the sections in Arabic were mentioned by Khalid, like Attarine,  Daraqqin, Saffarin and I lost count of them.

We bought this beautiful piece as a wedding gift for a friend

Copper, silver and gold plated plate for the wall decoration

Beautifully decorated pieces

The chest box is made of camel bone and wood

Mirror decorated with camel bones

Hand-crafted tombstone 

The man working on the tombstone

Beautiful jar made from pieces of camel bones

Hand-made cooking pots

Top Six Souvenirs from Iran

Bazaar E-Borzoog, Esfahan

While in some countries, most of their souvenirs are imported from China, Iran has a huge selection of local traditional souvenirs. They range from the cheapest key chain to the most expensive Persian carpets. The traditional bazaar is the best place to look for some of the country's best souvenirs. Most of the bazaars are so huge that it is impossible to finish browsing in a day. Among all the bazaar I visited in Sanandaj, Shiraz and Esfahan, I like the bazaar in Imam Square (Bazaar e-Borzoog) in Esfahan It is very huge, not crowded and very organized. Here are the top six souvenirs from Iran which I think are unique and authentic.

This piece of carpet cost about USD $3,000 

1.  CARPETS

Even if you have no plans to buy Iranian carpets or they are just off your budget, visiting the carpet stores and admiring the beauty would suffice. Iranian carpets are beautiful and worth the investment. Although the initial plans is not to buy any bulky souvenirs but the temptation lured by the store owner is way too strong to resist. Depending on the size and material, Persian carpet can be very expansive.

Crafted by the local silversmith, this beautiful silver chain is priced at US $80

2.  GOLD AND SILVER

I think Iran has skillful jewelry designers. Beautifully crafted silver and gold jewelries  and the fact that they are handmade gives it a unique craft as a memorable souvenir. The jewelries are weighed to determine its actual content of gold or silver before the price is quoted.  There is still room for bargaining though you will not get a major price slash.

The hand made enameled copper plate - a gift from Esfahan University

These plates are not cheap but they make very exquisite souvenirs

3.  ENAMEL COPPER PLATES

These stunning hand made enameled copper vases, tea sets, plates, wall-hanging plates and others can be a gift or even for home decoration. In the bazaar, you may find an artisan working in progress, and you can purchase his/her completed pieces. The items can be priced around USD $50-$300 over a range of sizes of wall hanging plates. Of course the price of tea sets and vases will be much higher.

The glittering tablecloth for US $40 and above

4. GLITTERING TABLE CLOTH

These glittering table cloths can easily catch your eyes. They are really beautiful but you have to give it a real check at the back of the table cloth to make sure that the beads and sequins are not falling off easily. They are hand made and I think depending on the shops, quality may vary significantly. Check for durability when you are buying one of these. Be careful when cleaning these items. You can dip in mild soapy water and hang them to dry or you can send it for dry cleaning.

Hand printed table cloth from US $5 to $100 

5.  PRINTED TABLE CLOTH

These beautiful cotton printed table cloths can be both hand printed or machine printed. Obviously the machine made is much cheaper than the hand made and in fact you can get it as cheap as US $5. The hand printed table cloth with the printer's name sealed at the back is an authentic and memorable souvenir to take home. They come in beautiful natural colors extracted from spices, fruits and plants. For the hand printed one, the more colors are layered on the piece, the more expensive it gets.

These mouse pads - a miniature of Iranian carpet, cost US $2 each 

6.  MOUSE PAD

These Iranian carpet mouse pads are the best bargain souvenirs to take home. It comes in various designs and colors just like the carpet. The little carpets are glued to the light foam material and they are very light to carry. But what bothers me is that after few months, the pad tends to curls at its end and of course I can't complain much for the price I'm paying.

Shimmering Murano - Murano Island, Venice, Italy

This huge glass sculpture - a centrepiece on the island

Murano is famous for its lovely shimmering glasses. In 1291, all the Venetian glassmakers in Venice were ordered to move their foundries to Murano because the industry posed a fire threat to Venice. There are many glass workshops, galleries and showrooms all over the island. The artisans produce beautiful and stunning contemporary art work from glass. 

Shimmering Murano glass beads

In those days the glassmakers were not allowed to leave the island or he risked being assassinated or his hands cut off!  As a matter of fact, the Murano's glassmakers were special because they were the only people in Europe who knew how to make glass mirrors. They also developed or refined technologies such as crystalline glass, enameled glass, glass with threads of gold, multicolored glass, milk glass, and imitation gemstones made of glass. 

Today, Murano is one of the attraction that should not be missed when you visit Venice. The easiest and cheapest way to get to this island of glass is to take the Vaporetta (water bus) number; 12, 13, 41, 42, 71 or 72. Taking the private water taxi would be much more expensive.

Glass factory in Murano

Colorful glass bracelets

The canals in Murano

Drying clothes on a sunny day

Necklaces are among items of glass jewelry. 

 

Beautiful Murano glass lamp shade

Shopping at San Lorenzo Leather Market - Florence, Italy

Colorful quality leather jackets and handbags at reasonable price

San Lorenzo leather market is a popular spot in Florence and the number of visitors flooding the place justifies its popularity. I first come across this market while watching one of most inspiring journey of Samantha Brown aired on television and I thought one day I shall visit this place.I end up visiting this place twice in 2010 and 2012! Even if you are not planning for a shopping spree, a visit to Florence market would be interesting and photographing in this market is fun. But be careful with your belongings and beware of pickpockets around this area.

The market is just a short walk from Santa Novella train station.  It is fun with all colors around us and the noise adds to the excitement. Great place to shop for jackets, belts, purses and wallets for personal use and gifts. Many stalls along the streets have their main store just behind them and the owners speak English very well which makes bargaining easier.  Bargain quietly and politely, as some vendors can be pushy. 

You need a few hours or half a day to shop here and to give yourself time to observe the quality of the leather before purchasing. Quality can vary greatly from one stall to another so pick your items carefully.