The Medina is authentic, but can be agressive and a culture shock (Marrakech (Morocco))

Member Name: SapphireSunflowr

Product:	Marrakech (Morocco)
Date:	02/02/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely bags, jewellery and shoes, good food and some nice people

Disadvantages: Aggressive sellers, lots of animal cruelty, deadly motorcycles

I'm afraid to say that my feelings about Marrakech are not, as most of the reviews I read, that positive. I have wanted to visit Morocco for many years - thanks to films such as Hideous Kinky, travel literature and a fondness for Morrocan lamps! In April I took a week's holiday to Marrakech with my partner, choosing to stay in a traditional Riad to have a "real" Marrakech experience! The Riad (Riad Douzi, in the Medina) was beautiful, with a stunning central courtyard and beautifully decorated rooms. Our hosts were also very friendly indeed, and kept us supplied with mint tea and breakfast. However, the town itself was quite a culture shock, particularly as to get anywhere from our Riad we had to pass through the area selling ingredients for magic and medicine - including tiny cages of alive lizards stacked up in the blazing heat. The animal cruelty we saw was quite upsetting - horses used to take the tourists on carriage tours were not given water and made to stand in the heat, we saw two collapse at one stage, and they were just dragged to their feet. The sight of the performing monkey tugging at his collar with such sadness was awful, especially as so many tourists who surely must know better still paid to have his owner yank the chain and make him dance or pose for photos.
One of my favourite things to do on holiday is shop, and as I love haggling in Turkish bazaars was very much looking forward to the souks. However the atmosphere was very aggressive, with the shop keepers sometimes physically grabbing you into the shop - my partner had to pull me away from one man who had grabbed hold of my arm and refusing to let me leave before I looked at his bags and considered his offers. Add to that the constant threat of motorcycles racing through the tiny streets, heckling public trying to give you wrong directions so you'd end up at their friends shop, or with more sinister intentions, and it wasn't quite what I'd call a relaxing holiday!
I did enjoy some lovely food, at the Lonely Planet recommended Maison de Cous Cous, but overall I'm afraid to say the Medina was far too "real" for me! We did however, love the nearby Atlas Mountains, which we climbed on a day trip. Stunning!

Summary: If you're not an independant traveller, consider a guide.