Page 334 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

332  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
SHOPPING IN MOROCCO

Every village in Morocco has its weekly are laid out according to the type of goods
souk. Lasting for a few hours, souks are busy, that they sell. Traders are friendly and always
colourful places where agricultural produce ready to please their customers. The rich and
and craft items brought by country people diverse range of Moroccan crafts can be
are sold alongside a range of other essential found in the country’s souks and markets, as
everyday items, making souks a major part well as at cooperative craft outlets and
of Moroccan life. Large towns have several specialist shops, and are also offered for sale
souks. These take place in the medinas and by the roadside along tourist routes.

however, business goes on as
normal, although some larger
shops close in the middle of
the day. During Ramadan,
grocers’ shops open late in the
morning, close for part of the
day and then open from
the evening until very late.
Shops run by Jews close on
Saturdays (the Sabbath). In
large towns and cities, clothes
shops and fabric shops open
from 9am to noon and from Dates stacked in baskets and ready for sale,
3pm to 7pm. They do not open Ziz Gorge
on Sundays. The hypermarkets
that have sprung up in all large Food Stores
towns are open from 9am to All towns are very well provided
9pm seven days a week. with grocers’ shops. In villages,
Slipper merchant with a colourful range of the grocer’s is the only place,
footwear in Tafraoute apart from the weekly souk,
Methods of Payment where people can buy provisions
Opening Hours Credit cards are accepted only and essential items.
Country souks take place only in large towns and cities and in These shops are usually no
in the morning. Grocers’ shops, modern shops. Some shop­ bigger than a large cupboard.
local supermarkets and butchers’ keepers will automatically add They are fitted with shelves
shops are open every weekday a per centage as tax onto the from floor to ceiling, and offer
from 8am to 9pm, although total if you choose this form of all kinds of foods and household
they close for about two hours payment. Also, credit card slips goods. It is wise to avoid buying
in the middle of the day. Some can be pre­dated or printed perishable items such as yogurt
may also open on Sundays, twice without your knowing. It is and milk, since there is no
when different opening hours best, therefore, to carry sufficient guarantee that they are fresh.
apply. Friday is theoretically a amounts of cash before setting In butchers’ shops, what is on
day of rest for Muslims; off on a shopping trip. offer is neither labelled nor priced.
Fruit and vegetable shops,
dairies and bakers are found
only in large towns. Although
French bread was introduced
during the Protectorate,
Moroccans prefer kesra, a round
loaf baked at home or in the
local communal oven.
A few charcuteries, selling
cooked meats, have appeared
in Casablanca, Rabat and
Marrakech but they are geared
to an exclusively Western
clientele, pork being forbidden
to Muslims. By using a local
supermarket, you can check the
Semi-precious stones laid out for sale at the roadside, Middle Atlas sell­by dates of fresh produce

332-333_EW_Morocco.indd 332 09/08/16 11:20 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm