If only I knew then what I know now. ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

If only I knew then what I know now. Or, is Marrakech over-commercialised?

Replies: 49 - Last Post: 29-Aug-2008 04:59 Last Post By: Fran_Bervard

jump to

Posted
25-Jul-2008 19:59
by: kate88

Posts: 357
Registered: 11/06/03

30

It took a few trips away for me to learn that you don't have to dismiss every approach from a stranger, even if you know that their intentions aren’t all innocent. Many of these guys are opportunists looking to see how far they can push it. When they discover that they won’t get far, the encounter can often turn in to a more relaxed affair, and many of these situations have turned in to opportunities to discover a bit more about the country and people you’ve come to visit.

Nusnus – very true….there is definitely a more uninhibited attitude towards strangers in the south, maybe to do with the harsher environment. Maybe you don’t see so many people in these areas so it’s best to chat to anyone you can……they may be helping you out of a tricky situation a few days down the road!

Sashac - Interestingly in the UK it’s the opposite. Northerners tend to be more forthcoming and approachable. Try and chat to a stranger down south (especially London) and they’ll look at you like a madman. Try the same in the north and you’ll probably be invite you for a pint! Probably due to the north being a harsher environment.

Posted
25-Jul-2008 22:21
by: sashac

Posts: 9,407
Registered: 17/08/07

31

Kate_88 - that's really interesting. I feel I should clarify my statement however (I was in a hurry when I typed that). Actually, Northerner tends to be less friendly on the east coast. The midwest is generally friendly all around, I'm not sure about California - they're all crazy out there, lol. Anyway, my point is, it seems that the closer one gets to New York (a very unfriendly city) the less friendly people are. This seems to apply to Tangiers and London

Actually, now that I think about it this also seems to apply to Marrakech - although people there can be friendly, the further from there you go, the more friendly people get. Interesting!! Mind you - these are all generalities, of course, there are nice and not-nice people everywhere.

New Years resolutions? If I'm not going to do it for 365 days, why the hell would I start on the 366th?

Posted
26-Jul-2008 00:25
by: Marocfan

Posts: 3,878
Registered: 13/07/03

32

Simple answer: people are generally friendlier in smaller towns, regardless of geography.

"I am never gratuitously rude. My rudeness is carefully calibrated to the stupidity and obtuseness of the people I am dealing with." -- Adam Carr

Posted
26-Jul-2008 00:31
by: sashac

Posts: 9,407
Registered: 17/08/07

33

Dang Dale!! Just take all of my hard work typing up an answer and sum it all up in a sentence. I never knew I needed an editor before. LOL :)

New Years resolutions? If I'm not going to do it for 365 days, why the hell would I start on the 366th?

Posted
26-Jul-2008 04:30
by: nusnus

Posts: 1,579
Registered: 01/09/06

34

Kate, when I'm hiking in Romania and I say hello to country people, they sometimes reply, "God be with you!" Southern Moroccans think in the same way about strangers and travellers; they need God's protection because they know how difficult the environment they live in can be. Moroccans are opportunist because they have to make the best of any new situation that arises. That's why so many casual relationships are open-ended, as you were saying.

And southerners can be pretty direct. Young woman in N'kob: "I went to university in Rabat. N'kob is boring. My aunt says do you want to come in and try her homemade bread?" Or, a man walks across the street to the cafe where I'm eating coffee and cake in Souk Ifrane in the anti Atlas and very politely asks, "Have you paid? Well, I'm going to pay for you." And he goes in, pays and walks off. All he said when I went to thank him later was, "It's a pleasure! It's a pleasure!" Shookmy hand. That was it. Minimum fuss. I sometimes think chivalry has survived in southern Morocco. It's the only thing I can think of to explain some of the extraordinary things that happen.

Posted
27-Jul-2008 05:53
by: kate88

Posts: 357
Registered: 11/06/03

35

I like the small town idea. When you’re from a small town you learn to hang out with people that, in a big city, you might avoid. This makes you a lot more accepting of folk.

Posted
27-Jul-2008 09:24
by: Marocfan

Posts: 3,878
Registered: 13/07/03

36

And...if you LIVE in a small town, everyone knows your business!

"I am never gratuitously rude. My rudeness is carefully calibrated to the stupidity and obtuseness of the people I am dealing with." -- Adam Carr

Posted
28-Jul-2008 07:29
by: nusnus

Posts: 1,579
Registered: 01/09/06

37

Specially in Morroco.

Posted
04-Aug-2008 19:15
by: ceb39

Posts: 20
Registered: 01/11/02

38

Agree. It is the old small town friendliness vs. big town busyness argument. And another observation from all your comments is that the more times one travels to a country, the more experienced and relaxed one becomes. This in turn leads to less hassles and understanding and acceptance of what is going on around oneself.

Posted
09-Aug-2008 07:04
by: alifbaa

Posts: 1,347
Registered: 19/09/04

39

I don't get hassled in Marrakesh anymore either. On the off-chance I do (and it's typically in Gueliz now by young men, more so than the medina), I just stick out my tongue or some other unsavory behavior.

Another thing - the deeper into the medina you go, the less hassly it gets. Head over to Bab Doukkala, for example - totally different world.

"we must not be afraid of dreaming the seemingly impossible if we want the seemingly impossible to become a reality" - Vaclav Havel

jilliancyork.com

Posted
09-Aug-2008 07:11
by: sashac

Posts: 9,407
Registered: 17/08/07

40

Yeah, I think it's funny that if a woman sticks her tongue out in the US she would get hassled more, or worse but in Morocco they will steer well clear of you. I always tell women who are concerned about their safety travelling along in Morocco that even if you get groped a little it's harmless and easy to stop, since it's not tolerated by others there.

New Years resolutions? If I'm not going to do it for 365 days, why the hell would I start on the 366th?

Posted
09-Aug-2008 09:53
by: nusnus

Posts: 1,579
Registered: 01/09/06

41

It's pretty easy to make Moroccans feel ashamed or offended. Sticking you tongue out would be one way, offering them money would be another.

Posted
10-Aug-2008 02:07
by: Marocfan

Posts: 3,878
Registered: 13/07/03

42

Offering them money offends? NOT offering them money seems to offend them more.

"I am never gratuitously rude. My rudeness is carefully calibrated to the stupidity and obtuseness of the people I am dealing with." -- Adam Carr

Posted
10-Aug-2008 03:12
by: nusnus

Posts: 1,579
Registered: 01/09/06

43

Travel more in southern Morocco to see the offence you can cause to people's dignity. Not everywhere is Essaouira.

Posted
11-Aug-2008 12:00
by: alifbaa

Posts: 1,347
Registered: 19/09/04

44

Um, I do realize sticking one's tongue out offends. I therefore only do it when I am offended (e.g. hit on). I think that's pretty damn fair.

"we must not be afraid of dreaming the seemingly impossible if we want the seemingly impossible to become a reality" - Vaclav Havel

jilliancyork.com

Subscribe to the latest messages in this branch.

Your Recent Threads

Announcements

Website speed - Facebook...
Posted By: VenessaP -- 07-Oct-2009 16:30

Latest Community News

	Speaking in Tongues Messages: 66,440 Last message posted at: 01-Dec-2009 13:18
	On Your Bike Messages: 29,103 Last message posted at: 01-Dec-2009 12:37
	Travel Tech Messages: 27,960 Last message posted at: 01-Dec-2009 09:56
	Kids To Go Messages: 25,853 Last message posted at: 01-Dec-2009 10:37
	Like a Sore Thumb Messages: 22,527 Last message posted at: 28-Nov-2009 17:48
	Trekking & Mountaineering Messages: 22,015 Last message posted at: 01-Dec-2009 07:28
	Travel on a shoestring Messages: 20,902 Last message posted at: 01-Dec-2009 10:23

Destinations

Africa: Destination information

It can be argued that no other continent comes close to Africa in terms of scale, diversity or sheer impact on the senses. Africa is the place for adventurous travel, where stunning geography, ...more »

Map »

Shop Online