For 8 days I did a roundtrip through the south of Morocco. Our first and last day we spent in Marrakech.(If you want to know more about Marrakech click here) The town is known as the "Red City", and is an important and former imperial city in Morocco near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. It has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers, and musicians, snake charmers, and many others. The place is also full of stalls with delicious oranges etc.
A variety of merchants get on your nerves by offering all kind of stuff from jewelry to daggers. You really have to become impolite to make them understand that you don't want to buy, and even that sometimes doesn't help and the guy would glue on you until you hide amongst your group or in one of the cafés around the place.
They also don't like at all that you take pictures and can get quite aggressive. Apparently taking a picture of a person also takes his soul and that's the reason why they don't want to be photographed. Curiously most of them suddenly forget about saving their soul if you give a little tip.
The entrance to Marrakech
an overlook of the huge place
Oranges everywhere. The fresh juice was just delicious.
These are 3 water carrier who have bells around their waists. I couldn't get closer otherwise they would have bothered our whole group.
There were also two men with monkeys. They seemed to be well treated, but I don't like to watch such shows.
and all what your heart wants for your children ! Of course you have to haggle and very hard, because they know that tourists are not used to that and make sometimes really fancifull prices ! I wanted to buy a little ceramic bowl, the price he gave me was 10 € for one. At the end I got two for 8 !
The best thing is to go under the half of the price and then meet in the middle. If you go away and he doesn't run behind you that means the price is OK. Honnestly I would do the same if I lived there, if tourists are so stupid.
a typical taxi
He tries to convince the 3 women to buy something
dried fruits
and fish ! I think far away from the sea and nearly in the middle of the desert it's not really something to eat, at least not for our pampered stomacs.
From the huge place little streets led into the souks. I take you around for a little walk.
it was awful ! too many tourists at once
Instead of looking at the shops I prefered looking into the little side streets
I really don't know what kind of vegetable that is !
going home from shopping
Behind this door can be a real palace. People don't worry so much about outside, but when you get the chance to look inside through an open door, you will see beautiful carpets, carved furniture, and you think you are dreaming !
People of my group with a tiny old little woman who wanted to sell us bracelets. I gave her a coin because I had taken this picture.
One of the typical butcheries, where the meat is still "bio"
but the guy got really angry because I had taken a picture !
moving
going home for lunch ?
cars are completely useless in these tiny streets so most used are motorbikes or scooters. You have to be very careful when you walk ! They drive like crazy.
old and new
I wonder what is behind this door ?
a beauty shop
and beautiful artwork.
Brussels Time
14 comments:
Great pictures and a great tour of the market and the souks. It looks like great fun but I wouldn't think the taxi would be.
I love the look of the souks and little side streets, like you, I'd be interested in what's down those.
Thank for the tour of the markets, Gattina. Pity I was too far away to haggle!
Wow, beautiful photos of Marrakesh - what a wonderful trip you had. You have to tip everyone to take a photo? That can get expensive.
What great pictures. What a greata market. I have never been to such a place. I love the way all the bright colors look among country so old.
Oh what wonderful photos. I have always wanted to go to Marrakech and it's not so far away from where I live now. I've been through the souks in Algiers years ago but would love to see what you have shown us in this posting. Thanks for taking those photos, even with difficulty! I was also in Nigeria years ago where I had the same reaction to taking photos. People thought you were stealing their soul. I guess I should have tried offering money!
Wow! Beautiful photos. Who knew that people still feared having their photo taken?
I loved the photos of the side streets and alleys. So mysterious and so begging to be explored.
Now this is what I call an adventure. Fabulous virtual tour guide.
omg...what a fabulous tour through marrakech market...i loved it...loved it!
and your photographs...wonderful!
so are you getting excited about your upcoming trip to italy? it should be a lovely time to relax and take in the wonderful atmosphere.
take care.
It seems like a wonderful place to visit...shortly and with a group. Love the colorful atmosphere, and what a different world it seems!
A great trip for you full of new and interesting sights. I was surprised at the spaceousness of the market. Photographing in middle eastern countriea can become quite dangerous, we had children throwing stones at us because we photographed their goats!
What a fascinating trip you had. Thanks for taking me too. It is such an ancient interesting place with its little side streets and market. Shame you can't take photos easily. Lovely colours in your pics.
Hi Gattina! Lovely to see Marrakech again. I'm sure you had a great time as the city is absolutely stunning!! Wonderful pictures!!
Meanwhile Blogtrotter (not me, I’m stuck here ;)) is profiting from the holidays in Lisbon this week and has a tour of Lake Galve, one of the beautiful lakes near Trakai, to show you! Hope you enjoy and have a great week!
When I saw that last one I was just thinking I wish there was more! I cannot wait to see some of your future posts, these were great!
It is an other world! Would like to visit one of those palace behind the entry!!! Pauvre petits singes! Enfin c'est le Maroc! Dans les prisons du roi ce sont des hommes qui doivent être malheureux!
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