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Thursay 11 September, a night at Jemaa el Fna square
Marrakech - part V
Elisabeth & Teije2006-07-19 19:06:53
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We start the day very quietly. First we walk through Gueliz which is reasonably modern. There are a lot of hotels and office buildings, restaurants and bars. Also some very deluxe shops. The roofed central market looks a bit like a souk but is much too orderly to be compared with the souks in the old city centre. A beggar, whom we had given some money yesterday, is very enthousiastic when he sees us and he thanks and blesses us again, although we don't give him any money today. We feel a bit embarrassed about it, for we haven't done that much for him.
We are hunting for souvenirs and we buy some nice Moroccon ashtrays and a leather lamp (made of cowskin). We could buy them a bit cheaper in the souks but there is too much choice there and too many shopowners who want attention. And when haggling one has to wait and see if one gets a good price. Now we also get an idea about the prices and what they should be at maximum. Since we only want to buy a few small items we don't want to argue too long about the price. But when you are really interested in buying bigger souvenirs, carpets for example, it is a good idea to take your time, comparing prices and haggle while drinking tea with the shopowner. But, be careful, they really feel offended when you leave without buying anything, or when you buy without haggling!
And we start early to replenish our moisture reserves. Every morning when we open our balcony door the heat blows into our faces. At night we have all doors and windows closed and sleep with the air conditioning turned on. The first two nights we tried to sleep without it and with the windows open, but it was too hot (it never gets lower than 25 degrees). After this break we probably leave our map and Dutch travel guide behind, since we can't find them after some time. So we buy another map and we still have a much better English guide (a Footprint guide: Marrakech & the High Atlas Handbook).
When we arrive
...
See photographs from:
Morocco Gallery
