Page 335 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

SHOPPING IN MOROC C O  333

(when they are marked, that is).
Imported foods can also be
bought in supermarkets.
Hypermarket chains were
set up in Morocco several years
ago. There are supermarkets
in all the major towns.

Markets
All large towns have several
markets that supply fresh fruit
and vegetables to the population
every day of the year. In every
market there is a fresh herb A brassware and copperware shop in the Quartier Habbous, Casablanca
stall and a spice and olive stall.
Household utensils, basketry In the medinas of Rabat, Fès, you wish to buy or at least to
and craft items are also on sale. Marrakech and Taroudannt, have a price in mind beyond
In the harbours along the souks take place almost daily. which you will not go. By
Atlantic coast, particularly in Their location and layout are contrast, if you refuse to raise
the towns of Oualidia, Safi, dictated by the nature of what your offer sufficiently to allow
Essaouira and Agadir, the fruits they offer. More oriented the seller to make a profit, he
of the daily catch – such as towards tourists than are the will not pursue the transaction.
sole, sardines, perch, shrimps, country souks, they offer a The real purpose of bargaining
squid and oysters – can be huge range of craft items is to obtain the desired object
eaten on the spot. from all over Morocco. while feigning indifference. This
Fassi glazed pottery is by no is why bargaining takes time and
means identical to that made in should be a subtle game
Souks Salé or Safi, and it differs from between buyer and seller.
For foreign visitors, souks are the Berber pottery of the Rif or
lively and authentic expressions that made in Tamegroute. Thuya
of rural life in Morocco (see wood (see p126) is a speciality of Forgeries
p205), offering the opportunity Essaouira; Ouaouzguite carpets Souks in medinas and in
to see a fascinating and genuine are renowned in Tazenakht; and Morocco’s major tourist
aspect of the country. Taking El-Kelaa M’Goun is famous for centres offer “authentic” goods
place once a week, souks are its daggers. of dubious quality and origin,
the focus of economic, social and for very inflated prices.
and administrative life in How to Bargain You are advised to be on your
Morocco’s rural areas. Country guard against goods that,
people come from miles In Morocco, bargaining is not so contrary to what the seller may
around to stock up on supplies much a custom as a duty. Every assure you, are often no more
or to exchange agricultural self-respecting Moroccan uses than skilfully concocted and
produce (such as fruit, this method, even when buying very convincing forgeries.
vegetables, eggs, butter and vegetables in the souk or
cereals) or craft items (such renting a hotel room. In craft
as pottery and carpets) for tea, shops, no prices are marked
oil, sugar and spices. Also on and the shop keeper considers
offer are plastic utensils and it quite natural that potential
clothing made of synthetic clients should bargain over
fabrics, along with chickens, the price. When a potential
sheep and sometimes mules. customer shows an interest, the
shop-owner will
quote an initial price,
which often bears no
relation to the real
price of the object in
question but which
tests the buyer’s
willingness to make
a counter-offer.
In order to bargain
effectively, it is
important to know A bellows merchant in the souk
Produce stall at the Tahar el-Alaoui market in Casablanca the value of what in Marrakech

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