1. Manau, kad galiotu, kai nuomavomes masina, dokumentu info nurasymas vyko labai greitai ir sklandziai (nors as veziausi naujasias).
2. As veziausi eurus - kainas siulo kartais savo valiuta (Dirhan), kartais eurais. Doleriais negirdejau.
Keletas patarimu ir ispudziu is Maroko. Kadangi si teksta rasiau porelei draugu kalbanciu angliskai, lietuviskai neturiu, o versti tingiu
Cia daugiau rasite parasyta apie tai, ko reiketu saugotis ir atsiminti, t.y. sudetingoji keliones dalis. Trumpai sakant, Marokas - tiems, kas nori patirti nuotykiu, o ne romantiskai pailseti
Zinoma, romantikos ir ramaus poilsio noredami galbut rasite, bet tam reikes issinuomoti masina ir palekti toleliau nuo turistines aplinkos. Patarimai sudelioti chaotiskai, ka pirma atsiminiau, ta ir rasiau
- Welcome to the crazy country!! :]
- Palma Quad (in Essaouira city by the coast) is a great 4-wheel drive adventure. Great customer service, overtime, they make pictures and a CD for you, so no need to bring your camera to sandy dusty roads.
- LA SHUKRAN ("No Thank you") will be more than helpful. The english version doesn't work at all
You will have odd sellers coming up to you and offering to buy things.
- Always ask for the price BEFORE taking, putting on or letting them to put on an item on you (or a monkey, snake - this one isn't recommended). A picture with a monkey can cost you 200 Dhs (20 eur)!
- ALWAYS bargain hard. The prices given are at least 5 times higher than the real price of the item. Also, some things are 5 times cheaper in the airport than in the Medina souks (Old city market). For example, camel skin wallets, other accessories. It may take you up to 10 minutes to buy one thing as bargaining is in their blood.. Always stick with your price and just say you will buy it somewhere else for cheaper. Remember, that bargaining is a must in Marakesh.
BARGAINING APPLIES TO:
1. All items in the market, also pictures with monkeys, tattoos (1-week, 1-month type, absolutely safe to make those and there is a big chance you will get one
). Remember to deal the price before taking a picture. Otherwise they will almost "force" you to make a picture (or even more than one) with a smiley face and afterwards charge you highly with a rude face.
2. Taxi's, horse carriage's will compete among eachothers over tourists, so you can bargain as much as you like (start from a very low price and go higher if necessary, but not much) and easily. We lived 15kms away from the city, so in this case taxi's were not too interested in bringing us home for cheaper than 10 euros. So, 10-15km distance - minimum 10-15 eur.
BARGAINING usually DOESN'T APPLY TO:
1. Most of hotels, Riads (traditional morrocan house, very beautiful, recommended.We found some for 40euros per double room). Obviously, if staying more than one night, you can ask for a little discount (10-20%).
2. Car, scooter & Quad rent. (Unless your accomodation would help you to get a better deal, which they usually do. We got a car for 35eur/day. Even with air-conditioner!).
3. Restaurants..
4. Buses..
- DO NOT pay for parking, if you are sure, that it is free! If they see you're a tourist they often come up waving a ticket in front of you, blocking your way etc. Beware and don't be afraid to be a bit more firm when talking to them, they might get very very annoying.. This often happens when you rent a car and go to pick it up, while it is parked simply on the side of the street. They ask money for everything they can think of
- In the city center of Marakech tourists are never left alone, there is always a loud offer to "taste this and that, buy this and that, try it on...". SO if really tired of them, simply act as if you don't notice them. If they come too close to you, shout LA SHUKRAN! and they will go away as fast as they came over
But remember, NO THANKS! doesn't help at all. Write down these expressions on your hand:
LA SHUKRAN - no thanks
BES HEL-how much? They were always surprised when I said it in arabic:)
- FRENCH is their second language, so if you do know it you will be a fish in the water. They speak minimum english. Some places have a good level though.
- If you are waiting for a bus, taxi's will keep stopping and asking if you'd like a lift. Just ignore them, if you're not interested, they will go away quickly.
- Restaurants.. We tried to watch for all the SELMONELOSE's by ordering something that will be cooked, not raw. Also, we had a bottle of brandy handy everyday
A sip after each meal, just in case. We tried restaurants in the centre of the old town in the market square, but were very dissapointed. We had chicken, soups, carbonarra.. not tasty. Ice-cream, traditional tea and coffee is very nice though. We also bought their round breads, that were yummy and always fresh. Though they always touch them with their hands
But you have to eat SOMETHING at the end of the day. Avoid street food. Watermelons, oranges, banana's sold on streets are great as long as they are not open. By the way, they are DELICIOUS!
- CLOTHES. Guys can mostly wear anything. Ladies - short-sleeve blouses are ok, shorts as well, but as long as you don't mind their whistleing and attention. Short sleeves and long thin trousers is a great option. Though I even tried wearing a short dress and came home alive
If you are with your male-partner, it is allright then.
- Marakech riad owners are pleased to pick you up from the airport or any other place, i.e. restaurant, but not to bring you back to the airport
- Breakfast included in most Riads and is actually the best breakfast I ever ate abroad.
- Always have printed info on reservations, pre-payments and contact details of some hotels, in case of any misunderstandings. I heard that Even though you make a first payment online for your accomodation, they might deny that they don't see it in their system, so you have to pay the full price. Printed proof will be handy in this case. We arrived to Marakech at around 4-5pm, so we had to find accomodation quickly before dark. We ran through our printed list of options and found the M'HIDOU Riad interested to pick us up from the city centre for free. Don't be suspicious if the driver meets you and asks you to walk in a few metres distance behind him for some reason. We didn't ask him why, maybe he isn't a legal employee:) Also, he brought us to an agency nearby to wait for another driver, which will take us to the Riad. We had to wait for another 15 mins and were almost ready to go away, but it is all ok. Hotels do need customers and will make sure you get a place to stay.
- Tourists are NOT WELCOME inside of the Mechette. I tried taking a picture very close at the entrance, but the person at the door didn't like it at all.
- While walking in Marakech, beware of scooter drivers, they go everywhere and any way they like. You will find them in very narrow market streets, on sidewalks.. Crossing the street in Marakech is a tricky task indeed!
SOME PRICES:
- Wallet made from camel's skin 250Dhs before bargaining. 50 Dhs after.
- Same wallet in the airport 50Dhs (One difference - the ones here did not have the name MOROCCO on them or any other name)
- Metal Bracelet with camels, Mechette and the Luck symbol 250Dhs. After - 50 Dhs. There are cheaper metal one's too.
- African scarf 160Dhs. After 60Dhs.
- Taxi 10-15km 200Dhs. After 100-150Dhs.
- Bus airport-city centre 20Dhs.
- Other buses in the city 5Dhs. We used to take this bus to go home. So cheap, but only hourly.
- Riads (hotel level, 6-10km away from city centre) 40-50 eur per room. Advantage - very quite, better service, cleaner, less tourists.. Disadvantage - Far away, must figure out bus schedule's or rent a car.
- The last but not the least.. IF YOU RENT A CAR/SCOOTER AND ARE ABLE TO DRIVE IN MOROCCO, THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!
The first days in Morocco you might experience a "culture shock", but eventually you will find the country beautiful and exotic
The most important place of peace and silence will be your accomodation. There are things you get tired of, but the good experience overlaps them definately!
Enjoy your journey and have a great experience
