Jun 2, 2012

Marrakech



Well from the comfortable high twenties we flew and in the blistering forty plus did we land. Marrakech airport reminded me of Perth's (in a word.. shed) and the atmosphere reminded me of landing in Broome. We got the dodgy taxi to the border of the town and from there a boy pulling a homemade trailer transported our bags to our riad's front door. We settled in, loaded up on a bottle of water each and headed for the main square close by. This was a shock to the system. The large square in the evening hosts a market full of restaurants, all temporarily set up for tourists convenience. Having said this the odd shop were popular with locals. As the sheer mass of people did in Turkey, the level of harassment in Morocco shocked us. Every restaurant in the market (round 120 in total) have a marketing 'genius' out the front mentally and sometimes physically coercing you to their seats. Even after eating I gestured towards my extending stomach only to cop "you so skinny. we fatten you up. please sit down". The general strategy is "where you from" soon to be followed by either "g'day mate", "crikey ay", or "summer heights high!". Don't be afraid to be brash in pushing these muppets aside. Especially if you have already eaten. Having said this we did have a handy eat in this square for about $5AUD for the both of us. Earlier in the same square we strolled along and as you do when you travel, panning around 180 degrees focusing at about 30-40 metres ahead of you. You wont do this in Morocco for long. Suddenly I saw an aesthetically challenged male Moroccan heading at a speed in my direction with a scabby monkey on his shoulder. This monkey was not happy, and why would he/she be, chained to a boss. I noticed it attempting (and succeeding) in biting the man on the side of the face. Anyway he threw it in my direction and I naturally gestured 'fuck off' in universal body language. He then tried to throw it on Rhi's shoulder and the monkey reached out, grabbing her shirt. At the same time (seconds after) I focused in on about 10m ahead of us. Three jet black cobra's sitting up paying serious attention to their flute playing dictator. My brain was ticking over at a rate rarely accomplished on a one year hiatus. So your pre warned before you go. Its a tad full on at first!
Rhi getting some natural skin care
 
This being said, you get use to it. I must also warn all future visitors of the scammers, which is every local! Love them to bits and their country is beautiful but give them a chance and they'll demand cash. For example, if you take a picture of the monkeys/snakes from even a safe distance of say twenty metres a man will promptly appear at your side, hand open pronouncing "snake. photo. you pay!". This applies to a lot of photo taking. I took a pic of a group of young (>10years) up and coming soccer players, only to be swamped by them demanding remuneration for their modelling prowess. Another common scam is for someone to give you directions and then ask for cash. Easiest way we got around this is to ask shop keepers so they cant leave their premises. So this may not sound like such a great place, but thats just it. Its hot, the locals are full on but it makes for a place chock full of character. The shops are fantastic, and if you are a budding barterer you can do quite well in amongst the mazing souks. Souks are the streets of the city that are lined with shops and that you will get lost in. Its almost like the whole city is a marketplace and you loose all sense of direction. We checked out a couple palaces and famous Riad's but to tell you the truth, as a westerner the whole city is a sightseeing experience in itself.

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