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 | Marrakesh Local Customs | Tips 41 - 50 of 90 |  |
The Jmaa El Fna square is a UNESCO heritage site, largely due to the story tellers that pass on stories in Arabic, but also note the musicians and various other stalls. However, prepare a small tip of 5-10D whenever taking pictures/videos of their performance.
These interesting performers can often be spotted at night. During the day, look out for the cobras and the delicious orange juice stalls! Leave a Comment |
SIGH!!
Yet another country that doesn't like to tell you what an item is really worth... I would probably love haggling if I was any good at it, but I end up feeling like I've paid way too much every time I go shopping. And it's not just paranoia - in almost every instance I found a shop up the road with cheaper products.
Having said that, it is nice to talk to local people and we've sparked some really good conversations arguing over the price of saffron!
Anyway, apparently, the trick is to always be willing to walk away - Never Give In!!! Leave a Comment |
In the centre of Jemaa El Fna Square, you will friend lots of brightly painted juice carts.
These carts supply fresh orange juice to locals and travellers alike, squeezed to order, and are amazingly cheap ( about 20p / 34 cents ), and taste great.
We were warned that the same bowl of water is ued to wash out the glasses all evening, and that this might make us ill, but we did not seem to suffer any adverse effects.
You may also be approached by a local beggar asking you to buy them juice. They will usually give you an old water bottle so they can take it away to drink later, and at these prices how can you refuse. |
It is nigh on impossible to buy alcohol inside the medina, so it is worth taking a trip to one of the supermarkets in Guliez to stock up, especially if you are staying in a riad.
The local brews of Casablanca & White flag beer are very pallitable and quite strong at 5.2%.
But be advised that alchol can only be purchased through certain checkouts at these supermarkets, which seems a little hypocritical, but hey who cares that much. |
You know how you hate those people who, as soon as the pilot has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign, dash to the plane door to get off, well if you want to stand any chance of getting through Marrakech customs in less than 45 minutes, you need to become one of those people.
It's not that the customs officers are slow, it's just that they have to complete a lot of paperwork before stamping your passport.
But hey your'e on holiday, whats the rush. |
One of the more interesting sights in Marrakech is the number of Storks around the city. They are particularly concentrated in the Kasbah area at monuments such as Bab Agnaou and el Badi Palace. They are found nesting over the high walls above the busy Medina. Locals believe that Storks bring good luck and as a result, the Storks are left to be. Attached are a couple of photos. |
Ahmed was very friendly throughout our trip and gave us sound advice and directions from finding us the best riad to stay in to offering the loan of his moped for a day! At the end of our first meeting together he shook Jonathan's hand heartrily and offered him best wishes. As he turned to me I naturally stuck out my hand for an equal salutation, but Ahmed pulled away, thankfully not looking shocked or horrified, and gently explained that it was his particular custom not to have any contact with ladies at all with the exception of his wife. So there you go. Some Muslim men, and it is only some - others will be quite tactile, do not believe it is proper to make actual contact with women - even as far as refusing to shake hands. I wasn't embarassed and was glad he told me rather than make exceptions and feel bad about it afterwards and it meant that from that moment on, I waited to be offered a hand to shake from a man rather than just assuming. Leave a Comment |
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Stucco is a form of art that you will come across in almost all of the sites you visit in Morocco: beautiful ornaments and kalligraphy on the walls, around the windows or on the ceilings.
It was quite fascinating for us to see this old art still being performed! In the suuqs of Marrakesh we saw this man still working on stucco frescos! You have to be fast, because you have to sort of carve the ornaments out of the whole material while it is still moist! Leave a Comment |
We have had lots of tea while in Morocco and have enjoyed it enourmously!
The most common tea was thé à la menthe, a rather sweet tea made from fresh mint leaves. You either get it in a lovely silver tea pot (and when pouring it you have to put the pot way up over your glass!) or in a glass with all the mint leaves in it!
Another very exciting tea was hunja, a tea made from ginseng, ginger, cloves and other spices. This tea is hot - spicy hot that is, but once you get used to it, you will love it!
On our trip to Ouarzazate we were served a tea made of different herbs like sage, thyme and some others, which was quite enjoyable as well! Leave a Comment |
Amazing work and sense of beauty. Inside the Souq you have lots of unique doors like this one on the picture. Leave a Comment |
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