http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33490 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33490 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32822 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32822 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31190 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31190 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31183 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31183 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29463 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29463 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27827
The initial shock for me was how time-consuming the whole ceremony of haggling is, starting with polite chat about “Where are you from?”, “Where are you staying?”, and many more questions. All I had in my head was “How much is it!”. But after a while I got used to this and understood that it was a new cultural experience and a different ‘shopping’ experience - although certainly it was not as sweet as presented in the last instalment of SATC!

If you visit those two places as we did, I recommend practising your haggling in the less hectic and crowded Essaouira as the stall holders seemed to be more relaxed and happier to chat and talk. In Marrakech the souk was an absolutely crazy experience and the sellers are more ruthless about getting good prices out of tourists. In my view the items on sale in Marrakech were less stylish and interesting than those in Essaouira.

For those who cannot see themselves haggling, there are shops with fixed prices (but you still can haggle in them if you like!). The shop I bought my favorite earrings in was Chez Abdou in Marrakech. Nice and short haggling and they were mine for a decent price. (Or at least that is what I thought.)

To sum up I would recommend Essaouira for more stylish, unusual items (pottery, lamps and candle holders), whereas I personally found the jewellery shops more interesting in Marrakech.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27827 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21019 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21019 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20062 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20062 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11672 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11672 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4597
In the daytime fresh juices are on offer. Orange for about 10p, mandarin/clementine for 20p.

The medina offers everything, from dried rose petals to the thuya wood ornaments, and sweets,but was the only place where I was groped and pestered.

And down the road from Djemaa el Fna (the Koutobia Mosque side) is a lovely hammam. Segregated times (so men go in the morning, and women in the afternoon). From Koutobia cross the main road as if you are going to Djemaa el Fna. Take the narrow side road, and follow it down. About 500m down on your left is the hammam. A very cheap, very interesting and relaxing experience.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4597