Shopping in Morocco
Shopping in Morocco can sometimes be an incredible hassle. Most areas of the country that attract large numbers of tourists- like Fes and Casablanca- tend to have a think cloud of touts and faux guides who float around and try a large number of tactics to attempt to steer visitors into paying large amounts of money for low quality goods. But if you can get through this cloud of hustlers you can find really interesting items: carpets, clothing, textiles, shoes, leather goods all can be purchased for a reasonable price if you show the proper diligence and barter hard . . . like a Moroccan. One tourist rich city that seems to be less endowed with these hassles is Marrakesh. But always barter hard.
If a shop keeper names his price at 300 Dirham, a good place to begin bartering is at 100. Work your way up from here, but I do not recommend paying much over half of the shop keepers original price. Moroccans seem to often spend over a half hour bartering with a shop keeper. I do not think that it will not be out of the ordinary for you to do the same. Name your price and stick to it, is all that I can say.
On Moroccan Touts
The below photos are of markets, souqs, food and other items for sale in Morocco.
Souvenirs in a shop in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Herbs and spices in a market in the ancient medina of Casablanca.
A Moroccan woman getting on a train in with bags full of things from Marrakesh.
Photograph of the raw stones that incense is made from in Morocco.
Photo of a nighttime alley way near the market in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Donkey cart laden with goods going towards the market in Marrakesh.
Photograph of a Moroccan man inspecting textiles in Marrakesh.
Vendor in Marrakech explaining what the hammam soap is made from.
Photo of souq in Marrakesh.
Natural Moroccan perfume made from amber and sandlewood.
Camel leather shoes from the market in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The raw ingredients of the hammam soap.
Olives in Morocco.
Lamps for sale in Marrakesh.
The busy streets of the market in Marrakesh. Everybody seems to go to it around eight at night and it is really crowded until around 11.Travel Blog Posts from Morocco
Wade from Vagabond Journey.com
Brockport, NY, USA
January 13, 2008
Nice pictures; but I wonder if you ask people for their permission before taking pictures of them. Most tourists don't. I hate it big time when tourists take pictures of people in the market, while bargaining, or chatting or so... We are not public property. What I hate even more, is when they video tape it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me, though!
Look. A camera is a device that collects impressions of light waves. Nothing else. If you think that you can own the rights to the light waves that bounce off of you then maybe you should not leave your home. No, I am not going to ask 500 people in a crowded market if I can record them walking by. That would be stupid, and impossible. By token that a person is in a public space means that they can be looked at as well as photographed. If I take a close up photo of someone and obstruct them in some way, I ask permission. But the permission that I am requesting is to stand in front of them and stick a camera in their face, and not if I can take their picture.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if someone makes their living selling to tourist, then they will be photographed. It is part of the job.
So if you don't like being 'public property' then maybe you should not go into public places.
I would not walk into your home to photograph you.
Wade
First of all, relax and breathe easy. No need to get all emotional about this.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the woman by the train needs permission for example.
The one of the shop with people who are not easily recognizable, does not need permission.
I still feel that photographing people without them knowing, lacks of respect for their privacy.