I know we’re in the sub-Sahara zone and all that but stone me it’s hot today. 28c here is more like 32/34c in Spain. Something to do with the quality of the air? Even at 28c the sun is fiercely burning!
We’ve been out on an excursion today, it took us through most parts of the modern and ancient city of Marrakech. The trip also gave us a good look at the unbelievably snowy Atlas Mountains (though I don’t think my photographs will come out very well because of the heat haze between us and the peaks).
I think it’s fair to say that we’re both wasted and a quiet siesta with a couple of good books is going to be our main occupation for the next few hours.
Snoozing may occur.
While we were waiting for the bus back from the centre of the new town to our hotel we sat on a large stone and watched one of the many street vendors do his thing.
He herded out from the small gathering of tourists a New Zealand guy, and repeatedly badgered him to buy a pair of hooky sunglasses. The price started at 500Dhs with New Zealand guy firmly saying ‘no’.
He was still saying ‘no’ when the street vendor said ‘Give me 20Dhs for them’. New Zealand guy was right on the edge of saying ‘OK’ just to shut him up, I could feel it and so could the street vendor. And then the bus came along and New Zealand guy got on it with us and that was the end of the potential sale.
New Zealand guy, like the vendor, was polite at all times and kept saying things like ‘You’re very persistent, you’re in the right job!’ which didn’t – in my view – help with what should have been his default ‘bog off’ position.
But it was an amusing five minutes that helped to take our minds off the heat.
I’m just wondering why the street vendors don’t bother us in the same way they bothered him? Must be something about our attitude and body language, I guess. 🙂
20Dhs is just less than £2 at the current rate of exchange.
Now, you’ll have to excuse me, I’ve got a book on Saudi Arabia and a hot woman waiting in bed for me…
Oh I can’t wait till I go to Egypt…. get into that heat! (but I wont be complaining like you agout it hehe)
I’m reading this very enviously, because the car told me we hit -8 driving down Strath Halladale yesterday!
Marrakesh is somewhere I’d love to go but after experiencing the persistence of the vendors in Tunisia I’ve been put off.
They had this set of rules as to which nationality of tourist had the most money to spend/most gullible/easy touch etc etc. Of course I can’t remember the details but please teach me how to fend them off. Most of us English are all about “leave me alone, if I need you I’ll ask”
Sounds like you are having a grand time though – I hope the heat lets up for you x
Trixie; not really complaining about the heat, just about being wasted after spending a day out in it. 🙂
Caroline; O.M.G! Thirty degrees difference!
Amanda; The street vendors are very plentiful and very persistent. The guys in the main Souk could sell anything if they put their mind to it. But it’s a fact of life and easy to get used to.
Ha! Given the choice between a grumpy Brit and a polite Kiwi, it’s obvious who he’d choose! 😉
Allister, I prefer to think of myself as ‘curmudgeonly’, it sounds more… cultured. 🙂
Ah, but we were wearing our sunglasses, weren’t we?
And NZ guy was not.
He was at a distinct disadvantage there, non?
A’bientot;)
Well it’s bloody freezing here and over the next week winds will apparently bring it down to minus 10 degrees, Tunisia here comes Harry (sounds a bit like a mating cry!).
So come on Brennig now that you are denied the luxury of Branston pickle – what’s the grub like in Marrakech. I have this picture of tempting (if dubious) street vendors and of course wonderful, exotic dishes of slow cooked meat mixed with fruit on a steaming mound of cous cous – Gatwick beckons. But is it frustrating from a vegetarian perspective or is North African cuisine quite good in that respect?
H
Sophie, since when have minor details like these stopped the street vendors trying to flog their wares? We’ve seen many who have tried to shine the shoes of folk wearing… trainers! 🙂
Harry, go on then, get away to Tunisia and get some mating done. 🙂 We’ve eaten in posh restaurants and market stalls and had no trouble finding vegetarian options. The vegetables here are much more delicious than the vegetables back in the UK – completely unprocessed! No frustration here whatsoever! 🙂