Water Sellers / Beggars / Intrusive People, Marrakesh

water seller are really pintoresc and beautifull photo subjects ask them in advance for the price for the picture or you show him first how much you are offering, take the picture and do not drink the water is a very bad taste and is from the fountains nearby ( i did drink, was discousting flavor )

The Medina or marketplace looks and sounds like a great place to see the local culture and pick up some trinkets. But, be warned, it's very disappointing and may leave you with your blood boiling.
A note from my professors brochure:
"Snake-charmers and their bored reptiles entertain the tourists. Dentists display heaps of teeth and ham it up for foreigners. Often merchandise is shoddy but the craftsmen are not enticed to do better when tourists buy the poorly made items. Since most of these people have never traveled except for a trip to Mecca, they believe Allah has sent we fools for them to partake of. Their Berber blood can make the merchants assertive to the level of aggression. You can expect that a rebuff will not be accepted graciously. Marrakesh has a long history of cursing, so don't take their response personally. Develop nerves of steel and play deaf. "

While walking through the marketplace I used those words of wisdom. However, while I was looking a one vendor, a group of men came up and put a monkey on my shoulder. The next thing I knew, they were all yelling and demanding money--I supposed since the monkey had sat on my shoulder. They weren't going to let me budge until I gave them monkey and meanwhile, the monkey was pulling at my hair. It took a male professor with our group to get me out of the situation and get them to leave us alone.

Unique Suggestions: Go in a large group & watch your back (and your shoulders for monkeys)!

Fun Alternatives: There are plenty of vendors around other tourist areas (hotels, near palaces, etc.) that sell the same stuff.

We had spent hours in the souks, and felt a little lost....the main problem was that we were near the tanneries. This is where you will be offered many trips to the tanneries, people will start to follow you, and even though you have not asked and they are following you they may ask for money for taking you the right way!

We met a man close to the tanneries who said that he would take us around and show us them. So we thought it would be interesting, I asked how much and the man said nothing. We looked round and at the end of the tour got dropped off at a large shop selling every leather. A man then started to put on a display of all his items, getting all the slippers, poufees out etc. We felt embarrassed as we didn't want to buy any of the items. So we decided to leave at the start of the display rather than the end! The man shouted at us, and suddenly the first man arrived. Asking why we didn't want anything, and then demanding £50.00 for the tour. This is the only time I have felt scared as the man was aggressive and we were in an area where there were hardly any people around. We managed to leave giving him only a small amount of money, but I was worried as if I had got my purse out he would have seen we had more money that what we had told him. On the way back we then got followed the entire journey by a man who then demanded the equivalent of £20.00 when we said no, the man then started to make a scene, so we gave him a small amount of money. My tip here is to say "we do not want a guide, and we will go to the tourist police" .....this makes people disappear in a flash. The tourist police are very good.

Unique Suggestions: If you are in this situation say something like "we do not want a guide, and we will go to the tourist police" ....

The monkeys might look cute, but my advice is to avoid them. If you go near them then the liklihood is that they will be put on you.

The people with these cute animals will be very friendly and pleasant UNTIL it comes to paying.......then a sum of money (way above normal prices) will be demanded.

When I offered an amount and started walking, two of the men then started walking after them demanding more money....it can be scary.....

Fun Alternatives: My advice is not to walk across the square in the day time unless you want a picture with the monkeys and are prepared to pay a reasonanable amount of money.

When I arrived the port in Tangier, there was a man who asked me to show him my ticket and passport. He seemed look like a guard. Then he led me the way to the counter where the people were buying the ticket. The man showed my ticket to the sale counter and then gave my passport to an old man. The old man started to fill my personal details in a form. Well, the man told me gave the old man some money because he was working for me. Then I told him I would not pay and I could do it by myself. So he gave me back everything.

Unique Suggestions: Don't pass any personal belongings to somebody if you don't know why.

Do not take to many picks.they want money for everything.If you do shoot from the hips.
Do not take anything that women in the street want to give you as a present,then you can come up in big troubble.

Don't let them force you to buy something!!
And also be carefull when you take a picture, not all people want to be on a picture and if you ask them you have to pay them. But also when you don't put them on a picture, they will come to you and ask for 'picture'money. (they react on the flash)

If I must name a tourist trap... then it's gotta be the likes of these men (see pic below). The Moroccans call them the 'water men'. I don't wish to generalize them but those water men found in Marrakech's biggest square... well, be prepared to fork out US$1 (minimum) if you were to take their pic. That includes the snake charmers and other interesting characters found along this square. They charge you for taking their pictures! Sigh.