A Weekend in Morocco
If you thought New York City was busy, you’re in for a surprise.
The hustle and bustle in Marrakech, Morocco can be very intimidating, and might take some time to get adjusted. When we went, we didn’t realize that the culture shock was going to hit us that hard!
We got to our hotel, laid by the pool, and ordered food at our riad so our nerves could calm. I highly recommend doing the same if you are feeling nervous and not confident about where you are, and this goes for anywhere you may travel. It is super important to feel comfortable where you are traveling while still being able to be adventurous.
Day #1
Anyways, like I said, the first night we were there we chilled and rested. The next day, we felt better and explored the souks in Jamaa El-Fna Square, ate amazing food, and got henna tattoos. The important thing about shopping in Marrakech is that negotiation skills are needed. Sellers will set a price, but always always always have the courage to state what you are willing to pay because they will eventually cave and accept the price you offer. For example, I bought a scarf that was originally priced at $45 (450MAD) and ended up being able to buy it for only $10 (100MAD). I also bought a specialty bowl for my mom (designed with camel bone and leather (super cool)) which was originally $260 (2600MAD) and got it for only $160 (1600MAD)! Moral of the story: don’t settle for more than you want to pay.
Day #2
This might’ve been the best day of our entire 3 week trip. We booked a tour guide to take us to a Berber house and have a traditional Berber breakfast, go on a camel ride, go hiking up a 3000 meter mountain, and go ATV riding. We had no clue that this was all a private tour, but it was a great surprise!
At the Berber house we had their traditional bread with butter, honey, and olive oil. The grandmother of the house fixed us Moroccan mint tea and it was AMAZING. Best tea I have ever had, by far. We also were able to see the rooms in their house and what tools they use in everyday life. As for the camel ride, hike, and ATV ride, the pictures explain our day more than words, so scroll down to see how much fun we had!
Day #3
On our last day, we spent our time exploring the gardens and palaces of Marrakech. We went to one of the most visited places in Marrakech, the Majorelle Gardens. It’s impossible to spend less than an hour at this place! It is insanely mesmerizing, I wish I could live there. The rest of the day we were able to go to shops, lay by the pool, and experience a hammam (steam bath followed by a massage). This was especially nice because we did it right before our flight!
Although we were nervous at first, Marrakech turned out to be one of the most interesting and beautiful places I’ve ever been. Additionally, we became friends with our riad attendant, Abdelhadi and our tour guide from our day long excursion. Everyone was so nice and helpful and I am counting down the days until I am able to go back and visit!
xoxo
