From the train station, I took the bus to the city center and then walked to the hostel. On the way I passed a little restaurant place with an arabic sign saying they have Raieb. So I decided to go back there later.. I didn’t understand the second line on the sign, but that seemed to be the only food they had, and so I got some kind of potato sandwich. With harissa. They had a lot of fun when I asked for more harissa. There were some other people eating, and one man started talking to me in German – he’s a tourist guide, and a farmer. Among other stuff, he said I shouldn’t buy the walnuts in the street as they’re not fresh! They’re from last year 🙂 So I didn’t buy any!
The main square was full of people, at night more than during the day. But the henna women were surprisingly peaceful. Mostly, they didn’t even try to talk to me. People from the restaurants did, though. One man said the name of the sandwich I had just eaten – that was interesting, and I wanted to know how much it would cost here,.. but, no, they didn’t offer it. But he had just been at the same little restaurant as me and kind of had that sandwich with me.
Walking a few more steps, a guy from Senegal tried to sell me tshirts.. I told him no.. and he just kept walking along with me,.. I repeated that I wouldn’t buy or pay anything.. and we kept walking through the medina. After a while, he said his friend has a shop, and we should go there to drink tea.. I said again that I wouldn’t buy anything and imagined the typical moroccan carpet shop. The friend turned out to be from Senegal, too, and making the clothes they all sold in the square! While sitting there and drinking tea, different guys would stop buy, have a break, or pick up more tshirts.
The next day, I had Senegalese food with them, sharing a big plate on the ground 🙂 And then I mentioned I might want braids,.. but not now.. but I’d like to know the price.. they called a girl.. who said it’s 150 MAD, I think.. and I told them the next day, or so. When I went back the next day, they called the girl to come.. I got my braids.. I paid what we had said, giving her 200 and waiting for change 😀 And suddenly I was told I should pay 300 – twice as much as we had said – I took back the second 100 she was still holding.. and gave her 50. And walked away. 20 minutes of braiding may definitely not cost 30 EUR in Morocco 😛 I guess we’re not friends after all 🙂 But I’d love to see who of THEM would pay THAT amount of money. They had said a tshirt is 6 EUR – and to make that, he needs a tshirt plus the fabric and then the time to make it.
Everything was more expensive in Marrakech than in Casablanca! So no souvenir or carpet shopping here.
My next challenge was to find ‘fripe’. Internet said that’s joutya, but that didn’t lead to anything. Whoever I asked told me a different direction and there ended up being nothing. Joutya may just be any used stuff in general.. and the clothes markets might be called ‘el bal’ – which does kind of make sense. I finally read about the Souk Al Khemis where there should also be clothes.. and there were. But it was quite a bit more expensive than Tunisia. A shirt would be easily 4 EUR! And I realized that I don’t even understand them when they say numbers!
