Marrakech culture shock

At the risk of sounding ungrateful, three days in Marrakesh was plenty.

Frantic, chaotic and dusty, Marrakesh certainly lived up to its status as a desert trading outpost. It’s impossible not to get lost in the city’s maze of market stalls, all selling the same Manchester United football jerseys, spices and “authentic” labelled clothing. The price is always up for negotiation, and haggling is Morocco’s national sport.

It was fun at first – I left my sunglasses at home so I needed to buy a cheap pair – but after that we didn’t need to buy anything. That didn’t stop them from hounding us as we walked past, however. I don’t think they see tourists as people, but rather as cash cows. Fair enough though, I suppose, considering how poor the country is.

Flanked by markets selling the aforementioned tat, the town square is bustling with tourists and locals at any time of day – including snake charmers, and monkeys on chains. At night, the square turns into a huge open-air restaurant selling all manner of delicious kebabs, Moroccan salads and couscous. It was definitely the highlight of the trip – that and the weather.

We wore shorts and t-shirts during the day, and jerseys and jeans at night. It was a far cry from snowy London, and it was a welcome relief to not have to wear our jackets for a change. Being a Muslim country, however, Nicola had to dress relatively modestly – not like some less-respectful tourists we saw around the place.

Talking about culture shock, Muslim people don't drink alcohol. What they do drink a lot of, however, is orange juice. The main square is littered with dozens of juice carts, where they turn oranges into juice as you wait. We drank copious amounts of juice.

On our last full day, we took a day trip to the coast. It wasn’t as sunny that day, mind you, but it was so good to see the sea. I think it’s good for the soul, especially considering that London is the furthest from the sea we’ve ever lived. The quaint township of Essaouira is surrounded by city walls and, like Marrakesh, is a maze of markets.

Morocco saved the best weather of the trip for our last day in the country. We were already pleased with the mid-20 degree days, but on our third and final day it was much, much hotter. We escaped the city early, and lay in the grass outside the airport. As well as making for an unusual photgraph, it was a lovely end to a perfectly short and sweet Christmas vacation.

Marrakech and Essaouira pics are here