Haggling in the Souk
Marrakech
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useful links
Virtual Souk QTVR (panograph.at)Travels in Morocco (teije.nl)
Marrakesh Guide (ilove-marrakesh.com)
"You like the bowl? Good silver from Berber village in Atlas mountains. I give you a good price - 500 dirhams." The question is, what should you be paying for it? 500 dirhams - or 50? In Marrakesh, finding out is part of the fun.
Haggling in the souks of the city's medina, or old town, is an experience not to be missed. It's easy to get lost in labyrinthine covered alleyways - and just as easy to lose your way in a haggling contest with a shopkeeper for whom bargaining is a way of life. But don't be put off. There are high-quality, attractive crafts to be had - and, if you keep your good humour and wits about you, at fair prices. The various souks are organised by trade, with many of the shop fronts also doubling as workshops from which ironworkers, carpenters, dyers and tailors all sell their wares. And although they might seem to go on forever, the souks actually cover a fairly compact area, meaning you can get your bearings in a day or two of enjoyable exploring.
To get the best out of the experience, don't be afraid to follow your nose and get involved - and learn to enjoy the locals' haggling-as-sport mentality. Remember, too, that the best way to close a deal in Morocco is to count out your currency in front to the merchant. It concentrates the minds of everyone involved!
Haggling in the souks of the city's medina, or old town, is an experience not to be missed. It's easy to get lost in labyrinthine covered alleyways - and just as easy to lose your way in a haggling contest with a shopkeeper for whom bargaining is a way of life. But don't be put off. There are high-quality, attractive crafts to be had - and, if you keep your good humour and wits about you, at fair prices. The various souks are organised by trade, with many of the shop fronts also doubling as workshops from which ironworkers, carpenters, dyers and tailors all sell their wares. And although they might seem to go on forever, the souks actually cover a fairly compact area, meaning you can get your bearings in a day or two of enjoyable exploring.
To get the best out of the experience, don't be afraid to follow your nose and get involved - and learn to enjoy the locals' haggling-as-sport mentality. Remember, too, that the best way to close a deal in Morocco is to count out your currency in front to the merchant. It concentrates the minds of everyone involved!
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