Day 5: In Marakkech

This morning we had a walking tour with our guide, Mustafa, and visited a mosque, an old palace and a madras (school where they study the Koran) before heading in to one of the most liveliest souks in the world. The markets are located around the famous Djemma el Fna square, which is full of snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats, musicians, etc., and of course, SHOPPING.

We then headed to the souks and stopped at a shop which sold herbs and spices. While there we had a little class on the different spices and herbs in the shop. The gentleman who conducted the class explained the many different uses for the herbs, i.e. medicinal, cooking, etc. I myself bought some saffron for my mom, some eucalyptus oil, saffron lip balm, etc. While I was making my purchases, he insisted on making my eyes up with kohl and placing a Berber mark on my forehead with the kohl.

I later asked Mustafa, what the mark was. Mustafa went on to explain that it was a mark that Berber women wore to show they were married, and to keep other men away. I was like okay. Needless to say Mustafa LIED!!! BAD MUSTAFA, BAD!!

We then went on to a carpet shop, where we were all invited to sit and have mint tea while they showed us the many different types of carpets they sold. After haggling with the store owner in another room upstairs, I, of course, ended up buying a small one. It's a beautiful terracotta colored thin weave carpet with beautiul designs on it (it's too nice to place on the floor, so I have it draped over my couch in the living room.)

After our tour, a few of us decided to stay and shop in the souks and have lunch at one of the rooftop terrace restaurants overlooking the square.

Shopping was alot of fun, though because of that mark on my head, I kept getting called "Berber girl" and "Fatima" by the shop owners (so much for the mark keeping the men away). We met some interesting characters that day in the souks. Besides the carpet, I ended up buying a beautiful handwoven tote bag, which, of course, I haggled for. After a while, we all got pretty good at the bargaining game with the shop owners.

We proceeded to walk in the square and watch the snake charmers and acrobats perform. A snake charmer approached me with his snake, he kept telling me be careful, it's poisonous. I looked at him and told, "uh no, it's not". He was like "why do you say that, how do you know". I told him, "because it's a python and I should know, I used to own one". He just started laughing.  Bronwyn then took a picture of me, him and the snake. I did, however, stay away from the cobras.