Souks
A Souk is the name for an Arab market and something you cannot miss while in Marrakech! These open air markets are bustling with people, motorcycles, carts, and animals. You can find all sorts of treasures in the Souks in Marrakech and part of the fun is really getting lost and seeing what you stumble upon.
I hadn’t planned on really buying anything in Marrakech but when I saw the lights I knew I wanted to bring one home. My first experience in the Souk was when the Riad owner walked us around after arriving. I told him I wanted to get a light (post here) and he took us to where he bought his! I also ended up buying a woven donkey head and a small painting on canvas. Other popular items to buy are leather goods, pottery, rugs, food, clothing, and jewelry to name just a few.
A few tips on buying on the Souk(s): haggling is expected and it is ok to walk away if you can’t agree on a price…I discovered that many times they will come down if you start to walk away. I always like to go in with a max price in mind of what I am willing to pay. When you start haggling, start low so you give yourself space to move up. If you do agree on a price; make sure to follow through with the sale. I feel like it is rude not to!
Also, check your change! When my sister and I were buying some earrings the man at the stall gave us the wrong change. He knew what he had done and was just trying to get away with it. Since we had barely walked away we went back over and got the correct change. He was smiling when we walked back over knowing we had caught him.
Be very away of pick pockets in the Souks in Marrakech. I think this goes without saying, for pretty much anywhere you go, but keep your bag on the front of you and where you can see it. Also, the Souks can be very overwhelming, you should be prepared for stall owners to constantly call out to you trying to sell items. Do not be afraid to keep walking or say no. For me the hardest part was the motorcycles zooming by constantly. Once you’ve had enough take a break by visiting one of the many sites (a relaxing garden) or even a cafe!
Square
One of the other overwhelming (for me) areas was Jemaa-el Fnaa or “the main square”. I think we only went to this twice and it was probably my least favourite thing. I would definitely recommend seeing it because it is a good place to really experience the hustle of bustle of the Medina.
In the square you will also find many stalls (a lot of Juice stalls) and people trying to sell you items. Plus, there are restaurants and entertainers. It was the entertainers that I did not enjoy. We saw many snake charmers and also monkeys on chains and in cages. Before you got to them you could hear the monkeys crying out and seeing them locked up/on chains was just too much. It just made me want to leave. I was actually yelled out by a snake charmer as well…
When walking through on the first day with the Riad owner I was taking some pictures of the square – not specifically of the snake charmers (to be honest I’d rather that not be in my picture) and one of the snake charmers thought I was taking a picture of him and his snake and demanded money from me. He literally chased me for a good minute of two badgering I pay him.
I have heard at night the square changes with it becoming more crowded and the entertainment changing. I didn’t get to experience it at night but I have heard it becomes more alive with dancers and magicians. With this come more food stalls and vendors and also, of course, tourists.
I can definitely appreciate the buzzing, vibrant atmosphere you feel in the square. I think it is part of what makes walking around the Medina so exciting and culturally different from so many places. It is a great place to people watch! Maybe next time I will grab a table on one of the decks in the restaurants looking out into the square and enjoy it from a far and make sure I don’t take any pictures!
Buffy xx
