24 RTW Day 57 Morroco Part 2, The Souq

By travelerdon on June 27, 2024

Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Souq (Markets of Marakesh)

Soon we find ourselves back outside walking through the souq (market). This souq is even crazier than the souq in Cairo as while walking down the narrow alleys between shops, we had to vie for room to walk with bicycles and even motorcycles! But here you can buy food and trinkets. Would you like an Aladdin’s Lamp? You can get one here! Teapots and other cookware abounds! Running low on spices? How about some potpourri? Never fear, they are here! Maybe something gold and shiny?

We even tour a temple and wealthy homes. The grandeur in the middle of the poor Souq market is a dichotomy in the middle of the desert! But that doesn’t stop our hungry cameras!

Once back in the main marketplace, vendors were setting up the square for the evening with hundreds more vending tents! The shopping here is off the charts! Want some Potpourri? Need clothes? Dried dates? More colorful spices? Oh dear, you must need a basket! And some new bloomers! Maybe something golden again? Perhaps you need a hat to ward off the harsh sun! Oh my! Get me a broom so I can sweep it all away! It is all here, trust me! If only we had suitcases to fill, we could come home with massive treasures!

More shopping ensues and I find a table in a cafe to watch the crowds from afar. Unfortunately there was no beer or wine available. Whiskey was plentiful but I wasn’t ready for that yet. So a cup of mint tea and some crowd watching later and we were ready to walk back to our bus. A man with a monkey poses for a photo. Silly me, he wants money for that photo! I offer him a $5 US Bill and he refuses it! He wants something different. He wants Morrocan Dirhams! All he wanted was 50 Dirham. What he doesn’t realize is that I offered him 500 Dirhams! I walk away. He follows and demands something in Morrocan Arabic. He tries to block my path. I get in his face and tell him in English, “I offered to pay you, you refused! Now go away!” He starts to make a scene but there are too many tourists around. I hold my ground and tell him to go away. I walk rapidly away and he gets the message and leaves me alone! Whew! Had me scared for a minute there!

Back on the bus, we drive a circle around the local mosque for photos. We also see the famous Seven Towers of Marakesh!

Then it’s back off to Casablanca, a three plus hour drive back. Some sleeping is had, some photos of the waning sun over the countryside. My camera even spots a Morrocan Stop sign! Sure glad for international sign shapes and colors! We arrive back in Casablanca for sunset and a quick stop for photos of the Casablanca mosque and photos of “Rick’s Cafe’, a famous landmark in Casablanca. Then it’s back to the ship (I’ve been told to stop calling it a boat, LOL)