Sounds Of The Souks

Tag: People

An exploration of The Red City known as Marrakech.

  • IS MARRAKECH SAFE FOR SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLERS?

    I would say that Marrakech is perfectly safe for women who travel alone.

    The overall crime rate is relatively low, and most female travellers have a wonderful experience.

    There are certain things to consider, however.

    Morroccan women dress modestly.

    How you want to be treated will depend on how you present yourself.

    Marrakech is liberal, but showing too much flesh would be considered inappropriate.

    Whilst you’re not expecting to adopt the hijab, you will certainly be regarded favourably if you dress slightly more conservatively.

    Long, silk, or cotton dresses are perfect and keep you cool at the same time.

    Palazzo trousers are comfortable and elegant.

    I wore turbans, and I loved that my hair was tucked away, keeping me from feeling too hot whilst feeling sophisticated.

    The people in Marrakesh are friendly and helpful.

    There may be an occasional situation where you may be asked if you need help to find your riad or the main square.

    Simply decline the offer politely and go about your business.

    Stand your ground when negotiating a price for something. Show you are confident and don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re not happy.

    Some men may cat call or make comments, which may be slightly intrusive.

    Ignore them and move away. If anyone follows you, find a shop vendor or restaurant to sit in or threaten to find a police officer.

    It’s rare that this happens, though..

    Knowing a few words in Arabic or French is always useful.

    ‘Non merci’ or ‘La Shukran’ for ‘no thank you’ should suffice.

    On the whole, I have never felt uncomfortable as a solo female traveller in Marrakech.

    There are plenty of us about wandering through the souks and enjoying the tourist hot-spots.

    Consider using a tour guide or joining a guided tour of the medina if you’re slightly anxious about exploring yourself or it’s your first time.

    There are night tours, street food tours, and registered guides when visiting the local attractions.

    In summary, Marrakech is a great place to visit as a solo female traveller.

    Most people can’t wait to tell you all about their fascinating city.

    Educate yourself on the cultural norms and differences and respect the local customs and traditions, and you will be perfectly safe.

    You will have a truly wonderful time.

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  • JAMAA EL FNA AT NIGHT.

    Jamaa El Fna comes alive in the evening, attracting thousands of people from around Morrocco and tourists alike.

    If you think it’s a busy place during the daytime, be prepared for a surprise once the sun begins to set.

    Gone are the snake charmers and chained monkies to be replaced with food vendors and henna ladies, street musicians, and dancers.

    Enjoying some performers in the square.

    The scene is organised chaos and a sensory overload.

    The sights, sounds, and smells are not for the faint-hearted.

    This is where people come together to meet each other, eat traditional street food, and sip mint tea and freshly squeezed juice.

    The atmosphere is electric and vibrates with a magnetic energy.

    Street vendors pursue potential customers with menus as they try to navigate their way through the crowds.

    Sometimes, they can be very persistent, and you can feel somewhat intimidated.

    The scene is very intense yet magical and exciting.

    I really enjoyed myself, but other people say that they felt slightly overwhelmed.

    It is unlike anything else you may have experienced.

    There is so much to see. There are games being played, and a few little scams take place to trick you into coughing up a few dirhams.

    Locals hang around, chat with each other, or play with a football close to the walls of the medina.

    Sugarcane is sold from vending carts.

    Bemused onlookers sit observing everything outside restaurants or from the rooftops in the square as the mosque rings out the call to prayer.

    As the sun sets, the crowds flock, and the atmosphere becomes intense and electrifying.

    The square is transformed into a social hub where anything and everything takes place.

    As night falls, the square comes alive.

    It’s an incredible experience.

    The bright lights dazzle from the food vendors, and beautiful Morroccan lamps for sale on blankets light the way, giving off a wonderful glow.

    The aroma of sheeps head cooking floats through the air.

    Tourists tempted to try a bowl of snails queue to sample this culinary delight.

    Drums beat, belly dancers perform to curious onlookers and acrobats show off their skills to the crowds.

    From restaurant windows around the square, you can watch from a safe distance,  but you can not escape the craziness.

    It magnetises you.

    The sheer madness, a complete assault on the senses in every way possible.

    View from the window of a restaurant, overlooking Jamaa El Fna/image Freebird Tracey.

    It’s as though the whole of Morrocco has come out to play, and they are determined to have a good time.

    Jamaa El Fna at night is truly a spectacle to behold.

    It’s lively, colourful, aromatic, and noisy.

    Be sure to visit and become a part of what makes Marrakech so unique.

    It’s certainly an eye-opener.

    Although it’s mostly safe around the square, exercise the usual caution in large crowded areas and try to avoid obvious scams.

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  • MINT TEA AND MOROCCAN PASTRIES

    Marrakech is full of delightful little places to sit, and people watch whilst sipping traditional mint tea.

    A pretty little spot inside the medina.

    The colourful, boho decor and tempting pastries are the perfect way to take a much needed breather from the chaos of the souks.

    Shopping in the medina is a fascinating experience, but it can be overwhelming.

    I found out that taking a break and pacing myself was the best way to thoroughly enjoy my time looking around and navigating the maze of the souks.

    I especially loved the sweets and pastries on offer. They were absolutely delicious and complimented the refreshing mint tea perfectly.

    There were so many to choose from, and I decided to treat myself to a selection of smaller pastries to see which were my favourites.

    A tasty snack inside the medina.

    If you are shopping for gifts or spending time in the colourful, vibrant souks, I would highly recommend that you take some time out to rest and pace yourself.

    Sitting outside a cute little tea shop and sampling something light and tasty is a great way to engage in the culture of Morrocco and its people.

    Enjoying a breather from shopping.

    There are plenty of places offering mint tea and pastries dotted in and around the main square.

    The sweets are an absolute treat, but you will be spoilt for choice.

    The choice of delicious treats on offer in the souks.

    Part of the pleasure of exploring the medina is finding hidden gems where you can sit and gather yourself before venturing further.

    Marrakech is known for its delicious pastries, and they’re a nice snack that won’t spoil your appetite for later in the day.

    Watching the world go by in the medina.

    A few suggestions are,

    . Medina Kawa Marrakech.

    . La Patisserie de la Terracce Spices

    . Boughaz Coffee in the Kasbah.

    Also, check out my blog post about traditional Morroccan mint tea.

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  • THE MARRAKECHI CATS.

    The life of a cat in Marrakech.

    Watching the world go by/image Freebird Tracey.

    One of the things you will notice when you’re in Marrakech is the number of stray cats everywhere.

    I was surprised to see so many, especially around the busy square, and in the souks.

    They seemed to dodge the many motorcycles and hide inconspicuously under the juice stalls.

    There were cats sleeping on rugs and cushion covers in the souks, and lazing about without a care in the world.

    I witnessed strays giving birth to kittens inside alleyways and watched as cats prowled across rooftop perimeters at dawn.

    Five years ago, when I first visited Marrakech, I took pity on the cute little kittens hanging around outside my riad.

    They looked thin and hungry, I wanted to do something to help them..

    Cats inside the souks/image Freebird Tracey.

    I purchased a couple of tins of sardines and carefully wrapped the leftovers from my dinner into napkins.

    I found a couple of cats and strategically placed the food in a safe place for them.

    Stray cats outside the riad/images Freebird Tracey.

    The next minute, there were  so many cats appearing out of nowhere, also demanding to be fed.

    This made me feel very guilty because I’d only managed to afford them a few tiny morsels.

    It was a case of first come, first served..

    I went back to the UK feeling a little sorry for all the homeless cats who alerted passing tourists of their existence with a gentle mewing and extended paw.

    The next time I arrived at marrakech, I saw things from a different perspective.

    I stayed in three separate riads, and each one had a resident cat, who was very well cared for.

    I noticed restaurants leaving food outside their premises and butchers dropping scraps of meat on the floor for the local cat population to eat.

    A cat waiting for scraps of meat/image Freebird Tracey.

    Many of the cats were being looked after, and some were actually thriving on the titbits and bowls of food dotted around the medina.

    Cats sleeping peacefully in the souks/image Freebird Tracey.
    A friendly stray waits for a morsel of food/image, Freebird Tracey.

    There was only one upsetting incident where a young man was sitting with a kitten on his lap, and it was holding a business card in its paws.

    On closer inspection, it isn’t something I ever want to see again, and I don’t feel the need to go into more detail here..

    I’m sure you can imagine what I saw.

    That was the only startling discovery I have made.

    On the whole, the cats appear to be relatively content.

    They don’t exist in the way domesticated cats do in the west, but they’re not being ill treated any more than anywhere else in the world.

    I even saw a man get off his motorcycle in the busy souk and move a little kitten to the safety of an alleyway.

    Image Freebird Tracey.

    If you’re coming to Marrakech, seeing all the stray cats may shock you initially.

    I was exactly the same, but after closer observation, I came to the conclusion that the situation wasn’t as dire as I first thought.

    There are plenty of little pools of water around the city for the cats to drink from, and some vendors leave glasses of water out for them.

    The crazy traffic and crowds of tourists seem to be the biggest problem, but the cats have learnt how to navigate their way around.

    I’m happy to say that I haven’t seen an injured cat at the side of any of the roads around Marrakech yet.

    There are tourists who are rescuing stray cats around Marrakech and taking them back to European countries.

    They are working with local vets to get injured cats treated and all the necessary vaccinations done before taking them out of the country.

    The cats in Marrakesh have learnt how to survive.

    They only know this life, and people are kind and compassionate towards them on the whole.

    Plus, I’ve never seen a single rat in Marrakesh..

    A family of Stray cats in marrakech/images Freebird Tracey.
    tracey.wright1963@googlemail.com
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  • COME ON A FASCINATING JOURNEY WITH ME TO THE RED CITY OF MARRAKECH.

    An introduction to the red city of Marrakech in North Africa.

    If Africa is a peacock, Morocco is its tail

    Welcome to my blog featuring everything you need to know about Marrakech.

    I include my own personal stories, experiences, and adventures, giving an authentic insight into the red city of Marrakech.

    My name is Freebird Tracey, and I’ve been a regular visitor to Marrakech for many years.

    As a solo female traveller, I have always felt safe travelling around Marrakech. The friendly locals treat me with respect wherever I go, always helpful and always with a smile.

    I believe I have found my happy place in the sunshine amongst the fragrance of orange blossom, the vibrant colours, and the magical sounds of Jamaa El Fna.

    Marrakech is a diverse and magical city, steeped in history. 

    From its beautiful Islamic architecture to the culinary delights and fine craftsmanship on display, there is something to tempt the senses on every corner.

    I never get tired of exploring this alluring, magnetising corner of our planet.

    There is always something new to see, and it’s full of little surprises.

    Marrakech is an assault on the senses..

    Allow me to take you on a fascinating journey to North Africa and show you how to make the most of your time in Marrakech.

    I will share interesting articles and suggest the best places to eat, including vegetarian and vegan options.

    I will tell you where to find cool bars that serve alcohol with live music.

    If you’re interested in activities, excursions, or day trips, I will share some of my own personal experiences with you.

    I will give you truthful  opinions, honest reviews, and provide helpful suggestions to get the most out of your visit.

    I share tips on how to stay safe and what to do to make sure you have the best experience whilst visiting Marrakech.

    This is a tell-all blog at your fingertips..

    So, buckle up and join me on a mind-blowing trip of a lifetime.

    Let me introduce you to the sights, sounds, and tastes of the red city. 

    All beautifully entwined with each other,creating what can only be described as a little piece of heaven here on earth..

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