Marrakesh Local Custom Tips by Firestar24

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!!!

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Website: http://www.ehow.com/how_9551_haggle-prices.html

This advice isn't unique to Morocco, but it's the first time I've been brave enough to try it and it worked a treat:

I always look in travel magazines and books and am amazed at the magnificent photos - my travel photos always kind of looked like the typical "this is me on the balcony" "this is me on the beach" kind of thing, and I always read that you were supposed to ask someone if you could photograph them and then show them the picture and offer to send them a copy. Language barriers have always been my excuse before hand (although really it's because I'm totally shy!) but in Marrakech I was supposed to be practising my French.... so off I trotted into the souks and there were all these really great displays and I just thought - "well, why not?!".

Whispering a nervous "Vous permettez?" and gesturing with my camera at the vendor pictured earned me a cracking shot AND a free pastry!!! And that was before I even showed him the snap :)

Well!!!

That was me off snapping for England after that and I got talking to some lovely people and got some wonderful shots to boot.

Check them out!

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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.

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