Tips 1 - 10 of 11 Marrakesh Shopping
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Name of Shop: Daoudi Mohamed -Art De Sud ( Leather crafts)
After visiting Dar Si Said and the Tiskiwin museum, I passed by this shop. Mr Mohamed was sat in the doorway, sewing a piece of leather. He showed me the special way that he sewed the leather pieces, by using a series of needles and twisting the thread over and around the needles to produce an attractive and very secure seam. I noticed that he had a wide selection of babouches of all colours, handbags and belts. I asked if he'd made all of these, which he had, he showed me his certificate too, which showed that he was highly skilled.
This gentle modest man didn't attempt to ask me to buy anything. I wasn't shopping that day, but asked for his business card, as I intended to return to buy a pair of fuscia pink babouches that were a 'must have'!!
When I returned a few days later, he proudly showed me the completed pouffe that he'd been working on.
Besides the babouches (175dh) I bought 3 leather bags . My bill was a total of 700dh (£45)
These are fixed prices, I was very pleased with my purchases, high quality hand crafted goods, with a pleasant shopping experience!
What To Buy: Babouches..beautiful colours, the softest leather,and hand sewn.
Mr Mohamed had a wide selection of colours and styles. Plain or decorated with tassels etc. 'snakeskin' and other designs.
Leather bags, shoulder bags or hand bag style.
Belts with buckles
Leather pouffes (cushions for sitting on)
What To Pay: Babouches 175 dh
I think bags started at 145 dh
Fixed prices. Though if purchasing multiple items, You might get a discount
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Theme: Local Craft
Phone: 066 59 13 37
Address: Riad Zitoun El Jadid, Rue Dar Si Said N -20
Directions: From Palace Bahia, head for Dar Si Said.
Along this road on the right hand side is Mr Mohameds shop. If he's not there someone nearby will know his whereabouts. He was at lunch and then the mosque when I tried to find him
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Name of Shop: Art De Sud- Daoudi Mohamed
How I managed to limit my self to just one pair I don't know!
There was an array of colours, some plain, some with beading, some in silks.
Mr Mohammed is NOT a pushy salesman at all- he was very helpful when I wanted advise, but didn't pressurise me to buy.
All of the goods on sale are of a high quality- all hand made (Please see my previous tip for more details)
So - Hand crafted goods of a high quality, at a reasonable (set ) price, with no pressure to buy-- The Perfect place to shop!
Open 10.00 - 12.00 and 15.30-1800hrs. - During prayer times etc, he might not be at his shop, but someone nearby will know where he is and how long he'll be gone, or they'll go and find him
What To Buy: Babouches!
Mr Mohammed also makes and sells a selection of hand bags, wallets, belts and foot stools.
What To Pay: Most of the goods are set price - I paid 175 dh for my hand crafted calf skin babouches.
My total bill was 700dh for these and 3 bags!
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Theme: Local Craft
Phone: 066 59 13 37
Address: Riad Zitoun El Jadid, Rue Dar Si Said N -20
Directions: Between Bahia Palace and Dar Si Said, near Tisikwin museum.
From Bahia Palace, follow signs to Dar Si Said. This shop is on your right.
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Name of Shop: Art De Sud- Daoudi Mohamed
As in my previous tips, This shop was a highlight of my holiday.
Mr Doudi Mohamed, is a Master Craftsman- his craft work is of high quality, reasonably (fixed)priced.
When I next visit Marrakesh, I'll definitely call here again to purchase more goods.
What To Buy: Babouches- a wide range of styles/ colours to chose from
Handbags- various styles/sizes and colours- I was spoilt for choice, but eventually settled on 3- 2 to keep (as in the picture) and a red bag, like the black one in the picture for my Mother.
I use the 'yellow' one every day now, and it's very handy- plus it still smells wonderful- a reminder of my holiday every day!!
What To Pay: I paid about £45 for all of these 3 handcrafted bags- A Bargain!!
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Theme: Local Craft
Phone: 066 59 13 37
Address: Riad Zitoun El Jadid, Rue Dar Si Said N -20
Directions: See above tip
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Name of Shop: CD stalls souk and Djemma el Fnaa
Whenever I travel, I like to listen to the local music. I usually return from my holidays with a few cd's.
Morocco has a variety of styles - Arabic, Arabic-Andalucian, Berber, Gnawa or Gnaoua(a blend of Arab/Berber), Rai, Arabic/belly dance, contempory, and fusions of these including rap/hip hop/dance beats.
The Lonely Planet Guide lists some popular cd's and artistes, so armed with this list I set out to find a cd stall.
I found one in the souk, and spent quite an amusing time with the stall holder finding a suitable selection. However, I needed to exchange some money, so explained I'd return next day to collect them and pay. Despite making a careful note of the stalls location, I couldn't find it .
This stall in Djemma el Fnaa managed to find me a similar selection. The stall holders were very helpful and friendly, playing selections from discs for me to listen to.
What To Buy: I purchased cd's by Hassam Hakmoun, Najat Aatabou (2 popular contempory artistes),
Andalucian music, and an Arabic/ Belly Dancing disc by Rafat Misso and Hossam Ramzy
What To Pay: 15 -20dh try to haggle if buying a few (tho' this didn't work for me!)
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Theme: Music
Address: Djemma el Fnaa
Directions: Towards the edge of the square, near the nut/dried fruit sellers.
Also souks and shops around the square.
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Name of Shop: Clothes
During my stay in Marrakesh, I'd seen many locals wearing jellabas and kaftans, of various designs and weights. Some plain, some highly decorated, some light weight, some a thick wool or felt.
I'd wanted a kaftan for a while to wear on beach holidays over my swim wear, but I was tempted by the heavier winter weights to snuggle up in on a winters evening- so off to the souks I headed.
I'd surrepticiously glanced at jellabas as I'd wandered through the souks, and had seen some quite decorative styles, but decided I'd be more likely to wear a plainer version.
I found a stall in the souk, and settled down to purchasing a jellabah. I eventually settled on a black silk with a black embroidered trim to the neckline. I've worn it a couple of times so far, once in Marrakesh at night for extra warmth, and once at night over jeans with a belt. My next visit I'll probably buy a winter weight jellaba.
What To Buy: Jellabas and kaftans- great for 'fat' days, or as beach cover ups, could be worn as night wear too, or just for lounging around in!
What To Pay: I paid 180 dh, (after haggling, the original price asked was 500 dh) I was told by the bar man in my hotel that I'd got a good price, he guessed I'd paid 300dh.
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Theme: Local Craft
Address: Souk, Marrakesh
Directions: Sorry, no idea where this shop was, except it was in the souk!
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Name of Shop: Somewhere in the Souk!
On my last day in Marrakesh, I realised that although I'd brought my copy of 'Sahara' by Michael Palin with me, I hadn't had time to read it.
I thought I'd better read his Marrakesh pages, to see if he'd visited any places I'd missed.
As soon as I'd read about his Muezzin clock, I knew this was something I HAD to have!
After a short discussion with the shopkeeper in my hotel, who acknowledged that you could purchase this item, along with instructions to go to the 'locals' shops behind the Koutoubia Mosque, I was heading in that direction!
Unfortunately, despite lots of searching and miming, I didn't find my clock! However, I thought if I could find watches in the Souk, I must be near to my goal. Again, with a lot of miming (pointing at my watch, pointing to a clock, miming sleep, then a bell waking me :-o) !! ) I finally was taken to a clock stall.
Although the owner was intent on showing me standard alarm clocks, I spotted my prize in the top corner of a cabinet!! light blue plastic, in the shape of a mosque. Instead of a shrill bell, you're woken to the sound of the call to prayer!
Since I've returned home- every time I feel a need to revisit my travels I just switch on this clocks alarm, and I'm instantly transported back to Marrakech (or Turkey, or Iran!)
What To Buy: Feyyaq Muezzin = Muezzin alarm clock.
Every time I hear the call to prayer, I get goose bumps! so many happy holiday memories have involved this sound!, so this souvenir gives me the chance to relive those memories.
What To Pay: I think I paid 80dh for this clock, the price started at 300dh!, my hotel shopkeeper said I'd probably pay 50dh.
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Theme: Other
Address: Clock/watch Souk, Marrakesh
Directions: Afraid, don't know exactly where this was, but was towards edge of the Souk, near DEF square.
Just ask for (or mime) clocks / watches, write Feyyaq Muezzin on a piece of paper, or download my photo of the clock!
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Antique Shop: Berber antiques
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Name of Shop: Antique Shop
I was invited into this shop, while I was wandering about near Dar Si Said. I'm no expert on antiques, and I'm always a bit wary if they are genuine. However, the shop owner was keen to show me some of the many items he had on display.
He explained some of the items were Berber, from villages in the High Atlas mountains. He also had a lot of Jewish items.
When the Jews left the Mellah for Israel, many articles were sold, or left behind. I was shown jewellry, household goods and old scriptures.
I wasn't intending buying anything, but left with a Berber key, which I paid 50dh for.
Probably not a bargain, but a 'different' souvenir! I did enjoy poking around this shop though, although it was quite sad to imagine the owners of the goods selling them or having to leave them behind.
What To Buy: Berber articles
House hold goods
Jewellery
Jewish scriptures
What To Pay: Probably as little or as much as you want!
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Theme: Antiques
Address: Near Dar Si Said
Directions: Not sure of exact location, but I think I've got a business card somewhere, so will post details as soon as I've located it!
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Name of Shop: Local Products
I spotted these pottery Toureg figures in Djemma el Fnaa. After a while haggling I purchased a reclining toureg in a blue jellabah for 50dh. It was wrapped in that days local newspaper. OK, I can't read arabic, but it's another souvenir!
I always pack some bubble wrap in my luggage, in case I'm swayed to purchase fragile articles.
What To Buy: local pottery
What To Pay: Haggle for a price you're happy with, I was asked 200dh, and paid 50dh.
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Theme: Local Craft
Address: Djemma el Fnaa
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Name of Shop: Shops throughout Marrakesh
I bought this small oil painting on canvas of a Marrakesh street scene fom a shop near Dar Si Said- as a souvenir of my trip, it was easy to carry, lightweight, and reminded me of my wanderings around the medina.
What To Buy: Oil paintings of local life
What To Pay: I think I haggled the price down to 100 dh
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Theme: Art
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Another picture I bought in Marrakech was this oil painting of a Veiled woman's face.
Islamic Art forbids the use of human beings depicted in paintings etc- hence the use of geometric patterns etc. I'd noticed that a lot of paintings of people had blank faces- just a white circle or oval to represent their faces.
So when I found this painting, especially because of the blue colourings, that would go with my home decor, I knew I had to have it!
I bought it from a stall near the dyers souk, after my 'guide' had shown me around the silk dyed skeins hanging to dry. It just caught my eye.
I had to haggle for a long time, but was glad I did!
What To Buy: Oil paintings by local artists
What To Pay: I haggled, the asking price was 400 dh, I got it for 100 dh- now I need to find someone to frame it (cheaply!)
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Theme: Art
Address: Dyers Souk, Marrakesh
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 Comments for suvanki about Marrakesh | | | | |
larken81 Mon Feb 9, 2009 01:31 UTC
Your review is great. Can you tell me about the dress for this show since I was hoping to travel lite. What are the temps like at this time of year? | lynnehamman Mon Jan 26, 2009 23:17 UTC
Wow! Great page on Marrakesh.Morocco is definately on my list of places to see. Love the Moorish architure. Thank sfor sharing. | kjs100 Fri Jan 16, 2009 22:00 UTC
If only I'd read your page two days ago! Great page.. very helpful and I can almost relate to most of your warnings.. Still.. I'm pleased I experienced them for myself :o) | sihi Thu Jan 8, 2009 07:48 UTC
Great page and tips! very interesting:) |
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