Get a good map and don't look lost, some enterprising young lad, any age from 8 to 80 will rescue you, take you somewhere you don't actually want to go and charge you for the privilege.
Prepare yourself for everyone trying to sell you something. We have developed a good no thanks patter due to extensive practice in Turkish markets and holiday resorts. We were tested.
There is no set price in the souks, know in your head what you are prepared to pay then stop looking. You will always find something very similar but cheaper two stalls down, I have the most expensive caftans ever bought in Marrakesh, I expect I was on the news as the single biggest boost to their economy. I have made my peace with it, they are gorgeous
All the guidebooks tell you to eat at the street food stalls at Jemaa El Fnaa main market square, it's a Unesco world heritage site. It has snake charmers, traditional dancers, fellas in frocks and monkeys in football strips, sunglasses and nappies. Waste not your dirhams on stall 25. It's a vastly over rated experience.
Ditto the excursion up the Atlas Mountains to visit the Ourika falls
Bahia palace and Ben Yussef madrasah were my best places we visited
Jardin Majorelle, Badii palace and museum of photography are okay, another damned by faint praise review by your auntie
I really wished I'd gone up in a hot air ballon over the Atlas Mountains, I will definitely do that on my next trip
Alcohol was served in only 1 of the dozen or so restaurant's we visited, don't be expecting to get drunk there. I drank an awful lot of water. I also had a really nice strawberry milkshake one day too, probably the first one since primary school, we even looked like kids with our sensible Velcro walking sandals, no there are no photies of our feet. We shall gloss over the indignity.
This trip was mr auntiegwen's birthday present, we flew Ryanair and our Riad included breakfast. Our 5 nights cost LOOK AWAY NOW husband dear, I paid £309. Do you think I could set myself up in a wee business finding nice wee jollities for people? My middle aged feet can't cope with the middle aged lady lecturing outfit shoes
5 comments:
Been to Tangiefs, but not Marrakech. Soul sound the same though.
I wear sensible sandals now too....tis my time for them......I think a balloon over the mountains would be extraordinarily beautiful.
Would love to go. My parents went to Casablanca in the 1960s and said the little children loved to lift mum's knee-length dress to see what was underneath as the local women all wore masks and floor-length robes. Will get there one day!
Beautiful...but no cool beer? Tricky. Happy birthday Mr Auntie Gwen. Marrakech is a place I've longed to visit for ages...at your rates I might just manage it
Sounds really enticing. Warm greetings!
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