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The suuqs of Marrakech is a labyrinth where you soon lose directions. Maps in guide books turn out to be of help only when you stick to one of the few wide alley ways.
This is the place ot lose directions, since none will take advantage of you if you seem stranded. And what a place it is. Moroccans love it, and foreigners too, so there is more goods to choose from than in any other suuq of Morocco.
Some might find it over the edge, but there is a selfconfident elegance to the strong colours and wild shapes of everything from carpets to water mugs.
The suuq is a living place with an intricate infrastructure. Different labours are assembled in quarters, and the nobody seem to be disturbed if you stop up and watch the handcrafts perform their century old professions.
Covering of the suuqs is essential: during the summer season temperatures pass 40°C for months. The coverings and the coolness of the stone houses make the suuqs a place to hide from the sun. Among the most common materials are found palm fronds.
Buying products of the nature is great fun in Marrakech, and most of the shops specialicing in everything from gourmet dates to humdrum henna have the kilo prices clearly marked.
For many tourist with haggling fatigue, this is a relief. And few of these vedors seem to allow you to walk away with the wrong product, and openly invite you to taste before you buy.
You wont have to walk far before the first great offers on carpets come your way.
Moroccan carpets are available in different styles, some of indigenous patterns and techniques (these are the best!!!), while others are of imported style. The carpets you see here are all typical Moroccan, even if they might remind the foreign visitor of carpets of other countries.
Prices are OK, but there is a lot of mint tea drinking, wagging, wringing, head shaking, sighing and smiling to be done before you reach the price level where you could say that you really did a good deal.
In general, a good carpet will cost around 300- 500 dh per square meter. The carpets you see here are of good good quality, and each should cost not much more than 200- 300 dh.
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