Things to know for your first time shopping in Marrakech Souks

Things to know for your first time shopping in Marrakech Souks

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

The souks in Marrakech are unlike anywhere I've ever been to in my life. They were an absolutely incredible experience for me and something I can now tick off of my bucket list. Twisty roads and little alleys full of stalls with canopies hanging over the top; it was quite a culture shock but what an experience! I wrote about how magical it was (here) but there are also a few things that I think it is important to be aware of, just because it's magical doesn't mean it doesn't have its flaws. Here are some of my tips for your first visit! 

Hire an official guide

As soon as you go in, you'll see why; it's very overwhelming and a bit of a culture shock so I was so glad we had Sami with us otherwise we would have never found out way out of there! Apart from not getting lost, whilst he was guiding us though labyrinth of little alleys, he stopped off to show us a traditional clay oven hidden behind one of the souks and was able to answer all of our questions along the way. We also found that with him with us, we got hassled far less than when we went back to the square on our own a few days later.

Wear the right clothes

..Saying that I did get groped whilst we were all trailing behind him. I knew dressing appropriately in Morocco was more important than any where I have been to in the past, especially in the souks so I was prepared but I still couldn't believe how bold the men were. I had a culotte jumpsuit on, one that I wear for work sometimes but it was hot, obviously, so I took my jacket off and had my shoulders on show. On two separate occasions guys grabbed my butt as they walked past. The first time it was more of a brushed hand so I wasn't sure but after a full cheek grab the second time, I decided I'd better just put my jacket on. What a difference that made, the rest of our visit was absolutely fine.

You'll Need Cash

As with all markets, its helpful to have cash on you. We got ours outside of the market as there are no cash points once you enter the madness.

It Has A Particular Smell

Before I visited, I read that some of the leather goods can smell so you should sniff them before you purchase, what I didn't expect was to turn a corner and be able to tell that there was a leather stall before I could see it. The hide is soaked in animal excrement to help the dyes stick and even though it is all washed off, the end product is still seriously potent; all part of the experience though!

Shopkeepers Can Be Persistent

The souks in Marrakech aren't your relaxed day at the market, be prepared to be pestered at every stall you walk past. Either avoid eye contact and totally ignore them or say no thank you firmly and they should leave you alone. Once you show an interest in something it's a lot harder to get rid of them, I had one guy follow me quite a long way away from his stall trying to sell me scarf that I was looking at. If you do want to purchase something then haggle! They expect it and nothing has a set price so it is very easy to get what you want for less than half of the original asking price. 

Whilst that is the case for alot, some were totally chilled out; I spotted one guy alseep on the floor in this shop. It was all very strange. 

Take Hand Sanitizer

I've never really been a germophobe but after an afternoon in the market, I wanted to wash my hands. This is especially important if you plan to visit the food stalls in Jemaa El Fna where there will be nowhere to wash your hands before you eat. 

Stay Alert

Kids on the street get suspiciously close and when you are not watching out for them; bikes carts and who knows what else are whizzing past. It also seemed that bikes don't have horns - all of the kids just made weird noses as they passed us. 

With so much to take in and like all markets, it's important to take a bag that fastens properly and try hold on to your stuff. I was pleased to have my Longchamp under my arm where I could see the zip and kept my camera around my neck with my hand on it at all times. 

Take It Slow

And one last thing to know before visiting the souks; they're absolutely amazing but very overwhelming. Remember to go slowly so you can take in all the sights and smells and get a proper experience! 

*Big thanks to Visit Morocco for inviting me along on this trip

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A Magical Afternoon in Marrakech Medina

A Magical Afternoon in Marrakech Medina

Monday, 3 April 2017

Morocco, and Marrakech in particular has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember and last week, I was finally able to visit. Whilst I was excited to see the inside of the beautiful riads and eat as much of the delicious food as I could, the one place that I have dreamed of visiting was Jemaa el-Fna and the souks.

As we left our hotel (we were staying at Movenpick Mansour Eddhabi) and drove closer, the big roads began to get narrower and narrower until we were driving in and out of side roads and alleys full of little hole in the wall shops.

We were dropped off just outside the entrance to the souks and paired up with a guide. Our guy was called Sami and he was super chilled. Walking ahead, he easily navigated us through the maze of stalls as we all trailed behind; stopping in amazement as we peered into each stall. He stopped every so often to let us catch up although we were all cautious to keep an eye on him because if we got lost in there we'd never get ourselves out.

The whole market had a very Arabian nights feel to it. Each street was different whether it was intricate lanterns and men melting metal in their shops, mounds of spice piled up high or leather slippers hanging down from the ceiling. You smell those before you saw them! The market is an experience for all of your senses; if you aren't marveling at all of the color, then you are jumping out of the way of a motorbike or trying to ignore the men shouting across for you to come into their shops. It's a very overwhelming experience, but it was absolutely incredible as well!

As the market opened out, we finished the souks at a spice stall with all sorts of fragrant, colourful powders piled high. We stopped to look and the man at the stall started mixing up potions and passing around samples for us to smell. We left with a bar of soap and a bag of eucalyptus crystals.

The end of the Medina brought us out to the most famous mosque in Marrakech just as the sun was starting to set. It was one of those moments; watching the sun set over the Koutoubia as we listened to the men inside praying on the loud speaker over the busy streets of Marrakech, that I will remember forever.

A bit further down we finally made it to Jemaa el-Fna squre and it was unlike anywhere I have ever seen before. A UNESCO Heritage site, the huge square was full of not only more market stands but storytellers and henna artists too. Smoke from the food stalls and the enchanting songs of the snake charmers filled the air as we walked through. Honestly, it was chaos but what a magical place. We made our way up to the top of Cafe De France and with a cup of ridiculously sugary tea watched as the bright blue sky changed to a fiery red and yellow over the madness below.

Dinner later on was a feast of traditional Moroccan food at La Salama. Through a hidden door and up the dark staircase on a red carpet lined with tea light candles, we sat down for tagines with cous cous as belly dancers weaved around us just like the motorbikes before, with trays full of candles on their heads (the style of dance is called Raks al shamadan). After the meal we all got up to join in before heading up to their roof terrace for dessert over looking the square. It was the perfect end to a truly magical day.

*Huge thanks to Visit Morocco for taking me on this bucket list trip

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