Marrak(Yes) and Marrak(No)'s

The past few weeks I have returned from my first trip in Africa. Being able to explore all of the continents has always been my dream, and here I am excited to finally be turning this dream into reality.

I booked my trip to Morocco (Marrakech) a few months in advance which made it extremely cheap. As a result, I decided to go ahead and book two extra tickets for my mum and my brother. Having my mum by my side meant that she could give me a helping hand in purchasing more activities along the way and being able to afford much better food ;)

I really enjoyed my trip to Marakech, however unlike my other trips, Morocco took some time to adjust to. If you are a first time traveller to Marakech, just like me, I would recommend that you go with an open mind to truly enjoy your experience.

My motto is - Expect nothing, experience everything !

I will post I will state 8 things you must see in Marrakech.

The city is bold, vibrant and very unique. The city is split into two halves, the old town (aka Medina) which highlights the ancient Moroccan culture and The New Town which is much more modern and Westernised. With so much to explore here are some of the main things you must see.

In this blog I will state 8 things you should avoid doing in Marrakech.

I hope this will help travellers create the right attitude and find their way in hectic environment.

WHAT TO DO IN MARRAKECH

1. Majorelle Garden

This is a botanic garden in the shade of blue majorelle, which was designed by a French designed named Louis Majorelle, later on purchased by Yves Saint Lauren. This is the exact same location where his ashes were scattered around in 2008. The garden is filled with beautiful exotic plants from different locations around the world.

2. Nomad

There are many places to eat in Marrakech, however during my journey I visited the Insta famous 'Nomad'. This cafe brings out a mixture of both Eastern and Western cuisines, whilst the rooftop view allows you to enjoy the incredible view of the sunset.

3. The Souk

The souk is a market that provides clothes, food, spices and a variety of souvenirs. This endless maze can be found in the Median whereby the more you venture, the more interesting it becomes.

4. Traditional Food

It's impossible to go to Morocco without being able to try their delicious cuisine. Some of the main dishes are : Couscous, Tajine, Pastilla and Harira.

You are bound to find them in almost every restaurant you go to, and whilst recently becoming vegetarian, I had no trouble finding meatless options of such dishes.

Contrary, if these are dishes that you do not prefer to eat, not to worry, as Marrakech has a number of restaurants that provide a variety of options from other cuisines e.g. Asian, Mediterranean, African etc...

5. Learn Arabic or French

The main language in Morocco is Arabic, however their prestige language is French. If you decide to speak to them in English, they may experience difficulties in trying to understand you.

Let me take you back in history and explain why this is the case. In 1912 France colonised authorities in Morocco and introduced French to the country. At the time, the government perceived learning a new language as 'civilization and advancement'. However today French is mainly used in banking, education and the commercial industry.

Throughout my trip, a lot of people that we came across stated that French is a mandatory language they had to learn in school. I also noticed that a lot of buildings in Morocco where designed and owned by the French. I enjoyed learning about their history, but most importantly I enjoyed witnessing the harmonious environment build within two cultures.

6. Mint Tea

The traditional tea is a mint tea. Its super delicious and a must try.

7. Relax for a day

The pool is an amazing spot during a hot summer's day, especially when the heat becomes a bit unbearable. We chose to take a day off and relax by the pool - Hotel les jardins de la koutoubia.

My mum particularly enjoyed this as she get tired very quickly from walking too long in the heat. During our pool day we managed to get a 2 hr massage and lunch at the rooftop.

8. Pool Accommodation

When choosing what accomodation to book in Marrakech, always consider purchasing one that comes with a pool.

Luxury goods and activities tend to come at a much cheaper price. Myself and my family booked an Airbnb with a pool, bed and breakfast, just £50 per night.Barging right!!

I loved having late night swims to cool down, especially when my upper view was covered with stars.

Nevertheless, you must keep in mind that this is not a standard price and will not apply to all the accommodations found in Marrakech.

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WHAT NOT TO DO IN MARRAKECH

1. Never buy anything at face value

Tourists are easy spotted in the crowed, which often comes as a disadvantage. Merchants will try to hassle you with prices that are often 5 times higher than what the original price you should be. Learn how to say NO and be prepared to walk away, most of the time merchants expect a negotiation and they are likely to follow you back.

2. Don't take pictures with animals

If you an animal lover and a strong believer against animal cruelty, do avoid talking pictures with monkeys, snakes and horses. Exotic animals are often stolen from the wild and always held in chains. Horses are held in queue for hours under the hot sun, waiting for people to ride them. By avoiding to pay for such activities you are enhancing stricter regulations to be put into place and such activities to go out of business.

3. Don't wear a backpack

Always try to keep a close eye on your personal belongings, as people might try to open your bag when walking around the city. Avoid wearing backpacks and bags that have an easy access.

4. Don't eat street food

A lot of street food tends to sit under the sun most of the day, in particular meat dishes which tend to go off very quickly. It's much safer to eat in hotels and restaurants as their food tends to be fresh and much more regulated.

5. Don't buy still water

Most of the time you will end up being sold iced tap water instead of bottled water. You will notice this from the loosen lid, however I recommend purchasing fizzy water or fizzy drinks instead as they are often difficult to substitute.

6. Don't wear revealing clothes

The country is a Muslim whereby most women are covered up. People tend to wear little no make up. It's important that you dress in a conservative manner despite the hot temperate degrees. Be cautious with your dress sense so that it does not offend anyone.

7. Don't stand around for street acts unless you want to pay

If you notice a street performance occurring, try not to stick around for too long. If you do wish to watch street performers make sure you do give back some of your spare change. I had an incident whereby I was shouted at for not having any change and standing in the crowd without paying.

8. Be careful when you walk

Moped bikes tend to be much more popular than cars. Everyone in Marrakesh seems to own one, however these bikes tend to be everywhere, on the pavements, in the market and they avoid giving way to pedestrians. It's important you are vigilant of your surroundings at all times. The regulations are often ignored and so are the speed limits.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Until next time, enjoy your summer holidays everyone :)

Arlinda x

A

#marakesh #morocco #travel #africa #minttea