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 | Marrakesh Local Customs | Tips 21 - 30 of 91 |  |
Moroccan people call female tourists "gazelles" (and men "gazous"). I was wondering why so I asked some people. Some said it's because tourists are very naive. Others said they called women this way because they're pretty like a gazelle. No need to tell you I prefered that version ;-) Leave a Comment
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When you go to the 'mellah' , the old jewish
quarter - the shopping mal in front of the 'Sagha'-
(the market of the juwelers)
you can spot these colorful towers at the
spice stores. If you wonder like we did how thay
make them you can see it in the picture.
With patience! haha.
You put the powder in a sieve and start building
these spice piramids...layer after layer. Leave a Comment
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 | |  |  | The Muslim Call to Prayer | Tip Rating:    |  |  | |  |
Morocco was my first trip to a country that was predominently Muslim. That said, I felt it necessary to do a bit of research on the religion in general. This tip pertains to the Salaah.
Moroccans have a call to prayer 5 times a day, at which time they are to perform the Salaah. They are supposed to go to the nearest mosque to do this with a congregation of others. Although many perform the Salaah most anywhere they find themselves (i.e. work, in their hotel room, etc.).
The call to prayer is called the adhaan or azaanezan and it may be startling to you at first, but once you get used to it, you very well might find it beautiful and fascinating. I know my husband and I were desperate to know what was said in this call to prayer so I looked it up:
Allaabu Akbar (four times - "Allah is Most Great").
Ash'hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah (twice - "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah").
Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar-rasulullaah (twice - "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah").
Haya 'alas-salaah (twice - "Come to prayer").
Ilaya 'alal falaah (twice - "Come to the good;').
Allaaku Akbar (twice - "Allah is Most Great").
And just so you know, the first call takes place just before dawn (and very well might wake you up!). And the very last takes place a couple hours or so after sunset. Before a muslim performs the salaah they must perform an ablution, this is done by washing one's face, hands, head and feet with water.
Unless you are muslim you will not be allowed inside a mosque (specifically in Marrakesh). So please respect this and do not bother attempting entry. Also, I'd be very careful about trying to photograph anything pertaining to muslims performing their salaah.
I found living amidst this religious ritual beautiful and sacred. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Djemma el Fnaa, Musicians and storytellers. | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Although Djemma el Fnaa IS a tourist attraction, where snake charmers, colourfully attired Water Sellers and Gnaoua musicians, pose for photos (for a price!), many of the musicians, singers and storytellers are performing to and for the locals. (Usually dressed in 'everyday clothes' not costumes!)
The speed and dialect they use is often too difficult for foreign tourists to understand!
Around the square, you'll see crowds gathered in a circle around these artistes.
Some may be listening to an animated storyteller, pacing in front of his audience, others to Berber musicians accompanying a singer or storyteller, sometimes with a male or female (or Transvestite or Trans-sexual ) dance, often taking a comic role!
I spent most of my evenings watching a performance from a group of Berber musicians who seemed to have adopted me! (I think they were called Groupe Aylalen)
They often invited me to join them for a drink, at a nearby cafe, after their performance (which I'm afraid I declined)
Gathered around kerosene lamps, the musicians would start a tune, then start singing, their leader would then break off and start appealing to the crowd- Although I couldn't understand fully, there seemed to be different storylines, where other musicians from the group would also take their turn in the proceedings to appeal for money.
Slowly, coins would be tossed into the arena, when enough was judged to be collected, the music would continue - a sort of pay per view!
There were also cassette tapes of the groups music to buy. (Which I did - a souvenir that reminds me of my happy evenings in Djemma el Fnaa!)
Often musicians and dancers from other groups would come and join in for a song or two, before returning to their own group.
The musicians are on the lookout for tourists taking photo's, and will (rightly) expect a tip, but often they are then invited to take a seat, with a front row view.
These evenings made my stay in Marrakesh even more special, I felt quite at home here! Leave a Comment
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