How anyone can say Marrakech can be done in a day or that there is nothing much to see is incredible. I didn't give it 1 star as we did meet some decent people and we arrived out of the medina without getting mobbed, beat up or worse. Excessive friendliness, a short personal back story and warnings of potential dangers are a give away.
Stay in large groups do not make any eye contact espicially to ones that call out to you from behind or pay you any compliment. I can't stress enough espicially to any white western woman to not accept directions or even let them walk with you regardless if you know where you're roughly going. At one point one of us had to proportionally physically remove one of them from being right in our face and attempting to lay their hands on us once more. We where three 6ft+ guys (not timid but not exactly trained fighters either) and the 'kids' ranging roughly from 8-16 where not phased one bit by this, even laying their hands on us a few times. However what really got me was the very aggressive street kids threatening to break your face, throw insults at your family, say they will rob you whilst they follow you carefully from a distance & not too subtly videoing you to set up a trap further down the road with some of the older cronies. The frequency of potential scams did bother me a bit even though i was expecting it to some degree. I didn't mind to much the hassle you get from a lot of vendors although these in question really are out to get every last penny of you, fair enough. We started off out trip to the Medina reasonably well read on what to expect (good and bad) on our visit to the Medina. There are many food vendors on the edge of the central square, they’ve ALL got the same stuff ( mainly grilled skewers of diminutive pieces of meat old vegetables ) and it’s ALL a rip-off! Look our for nice, not flashy little cafes in the back alleys and eat better at half the price! This, is not to the liking of the many, apparently jobless young men, who aggressively repeatedly try to mislead tourists and get very aggressive if you don’t hand over money for their “misinformation” ! Walk ahead and DON’T respond at all!
Today most canny tourists carry around.Mobile phones installed with Google maps and know EXACTLY where they are going. The souks and marketplaces of Morocco are one of the main reasons for our visits, but here in Marrakech it is really a mixed pleasure! It is interesting to see some of the smaller side alleys where craftsmen are ( apparently ) plying their ancient trades : copper beating, wood and plaster carving, etc but on those areas directly adjoining the main square, there is mostly tourist trash, and touts, mostly unpleasant! Experiencing the evening chaos and activity at the Djemaa el-Fna, the main square, is also a must. The Bahia Palace, Maison de la Photographie, and Jardin Majorelle located in or near the Medina are all worth a visit. Marrakesh has the most tourists of the three Medinas and their mark is felt. You can easily wander in circles trying to find your way out. The large central souk is a labyrinth of narrow streets brimming with a wide assortment of interesting goods and crafts. You have to continually dodge motorcycles and, on some streets, cars, as they zoom by. Marrakesh – The Medina is large and hectic, especially because motorcycles are allowed on all the streets and narrow walkways. Most locals are very friendly, but watch out for the few want-to-be guides, who offer to be helpful for a price. Sitting in a street side restaurant and watching the throngs of people passing by is a great activity while in Fes. It is easy to get lost on the very narrow side streets that lead into the many neighborhoods, many of which terminate in dead ends, making for exciting exploring. The sloping nature of the city also allows for fantastic views from the many terraces of riads and restaurants. The city was built on slopes leading down to the central river so as you walk from the city wall into the central portions you are heading down as the streets or walkways become narrower and buildings higher, adding to its mystery.
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the narrow streets. Much of it is as it was probably a century ago. As you venture through one of the gates into the Medina, you seem to step back in time. A picturesque town not to be missed.įes – Fes is an amazing city. Shopkeepers and sales people are pleasant and friendly. Nice intact neighborhoods each with a wonderful tiled fountain. Town consisted mostly of locals going about their daily business and lives with relatively few tourists peering around. Each adds to a wonderful visit to Morocco.Ĭhefchaouen – A pleasure to explore with its beautiful blue walls and calm streets. We spent at least a couple days in each of these Medinas during our travels.
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