Morocco is a country that is not as well explored by Russian tourists as, for example, Turkey, although in terms of prices and level of service it can be a worthy competitor.

If you happen to exchange a few words with a Berber schoolboy, the first thing he will ask is where Russia is located, where you come from, who is your king, and why the Russian team plays football so poorly.

Except that getting there is a little more expensive and takes longer: Morocco is a kingdom in northern Africa. Moreover, the real thing, no fools. The king here is perhaps even more popular than the queen in Great Britain; his image (not for sale!) can be found in almost any store, even a stale one.

And, besides, Morocco is a Muslim country. But without extremism. Europeans have been welcome here for a long time. It is not for nothing that French tourists have firmly established themselves in Morocco: vacationing in their former colony is considered good manners among them.

A country

If you try to describe Morocco in one word, it would be “mixture”. Moreover, a mixture of completely unexpected things. Well, what is it like to see several women in hijabs riding along ancient narrow streets at a decent speed, avoiding people walking?

Meanwhile, Morocco is truly an incredible fusion of the traditional eastern way of life with modernity: half of the local population lives in historical centers that have not changed in any way for several hundred years, except that satellite dishes have appeared on the roofs. Part of the population lives in the mountains, where the benefits of civilization have never reached. And next to this life there are luxury hotels, golf clubs and beaches for tourists.

In Morocco, you can choose your lifestyle - you can not leave the “civilized zone” and enjoy the proximity to the Canary Islands. Or you can stay in a small hotel in the city center (prices in all such hotels are a ridiculous 7-10 dollars per person) and try to penetrate local life.

People

The Moroccans themselves are also an explosive mixture of different nationalities. The majority are Arabs and Berbers (the original pre-Arab population of the country). And, according to personal observations, they are strikingly different from each other. When communicating with an Arab, you immediately realize that you are a stranger. And all communication can only be the background of the buying and selling process. The Berbers are a different matter - they are surprisingly friendly, unobtrusively sociable and not closed off in their own world.

If you happen to exchange a few words with a Berber schoolboy, the first thing he will ask is where Russia is located, where you come from, who is your king, and why the Russian team plays football so poorly. Not bad for a child?

In general, on the streets of Morocco, people tend to communicate spontaneously: it is impossible to predict who will approach you and for what purposes. Some suffer from a lack of communication, others want to sell you hashish, others want to show you the city, others want to complain about how difficult it is to find a job. Perhaps, a tourist who goes for a walk alone will suffer from excessive (but completely harmless) attention.

And, as you might guess, a woman will never approach you. Women in Morocco live according to Muslim tradition - without sticking their nose out of the hijab, covered from head to toe. And what is slightly disappointing is that there are few beautiful Moroccan women. Historically, this is easy to explain: it was from Morocco that in the Middle Ages pretty girls were most often kidnapped to make them into dancers. In fact, most modern Moroccan women have impressive dimensions.

And this is not surprising: Moroccan cuisine is very tasty and nutritious.

Kitchen

What can you try in Morocco? Among the dishes of national cuisine there is nothing exotic to the point of inedibility. First, try the tagine. Classic tajina is different types of meat and fish stewed in a special conical-shaped bowl. However, Moroccans allow any deviations from the canon - vegetables, meat and vegetables, and just fish can be included in the tagine. But anyway it's delicious. The second candidate to try is couscous. This is not a sweet, as many people think, but a delicious paste made from wheat, served with vegetables, lamb and sometimes fish. By the way, fish is excellently fried on a grill on the embankments of all resort towns.

Sweets cannot be avoided (some even complain that they return from Morocco feeling better): most Moroccan sweets are made from honey, nuts and flour. Moreover, there are many modifications and options for preparing cakes. A typical national drink is mint tea. Moroccans drink it everywhere, and it is offered both in restaurants and souvenir shops. But the main thing is that mint tea is sweet; Moroccan residents don’t understand how you can drink it without sugar.

What to see

Each major Moroccan city has its own flavor. This is not a metaphor: all the houses in Marrakesh are painted warm orange, in Fez – sandy, in Essaouira – white. This is a tribute to tradition, which dictates that rich houses should be no different in appearance from poor ones. And it's not about potential thieves. “An Arab is rich only at home,” says the saying. In the Muslim community there are no sharp class boundaries: everyone goes to the same bathhouse, to the same school, to the same mosque - the one that is closer to home. An Arab has the right to demonstrate his wealth only at home - and he decorates the patio (riad) in the style of “A Thousand and One Nights”: he plants a garden, installs a fountain, cages with songbirds, and carpets. But you will most likely never see this.

But Morocco will turn its face to you in the market. The rules of behavior at an oriental bazaar are the same everywhere: protect your wallet from passing thieves and bargain shamelessly, reducing the price by at least half. If you are treated to mint tea and seated on a stool, but within twenty minutes you and the seller do not come to a consensus, you should not feel obligated to buy anything. Hospitality, long bargaining and a reverent attitude towards the buyer are a tradition.

Cities have not only color specificity. In fact, every Moroccan city (with the possible exception of dusty Casablanca) has something special for tourists; it’s not for nothing that almost all of them call themselves the capital - either a state capital, or an ancient Berber capital, or a cultural or economic capital. Even if you are going to devote all your time to a beach holiday somewhere in the area of ​​Agalir or Essaouira, do not ignore Marrakesh, which is landlocked. This is a city-poem.

All roads in Marrakesh will sooner or later lead to the central square of Jema el Fna, where European artistic bohemia once loved to hang out. Nowadays there are more and more banal tourists who are entertained by fakirs and snake charmers, colorful water carriers, soothsayers and legend tellers, women applying henna tattoos. The center of the square is filled with awnings, under which, upon your order, freshly squeezed orange juice will be prepared for you, which you will remember kind words in Moscow coffee shops. And in the late afternoon, on Djema el-fna smoke begins to rise: tables are brought out, where national cuisine is prepared for tourists, kebabs are fried, lights are lit, and music is played.

Useful

You can travel between cities by bus or train. In general, any collision with the transport system of Morocco once again confirms the saying “East is East.” Rushing and scheduling are looked down upon here: despite the short distances between cities, Moroccan trains are annoyingly slow, and buses typically leave half an hour later than scheduled. However, both types of transport are quite comfortable and equipped with air conditioning.

Travel costs by train and bus are approximately the same. Average cost of travel from city to city: 180 – 200 dirhams. Local currency exchange rate: 1 dollar is equal to approximately 11 dirhams. Although National language Morocco is Arabic, the entire local population speaks French, and in places where tourists gather, they also speak English.

Elena Uvarova

How do people live in Morocco? How to describe this country in one word? Probably a mixture. There is so much mixed in it that sometimes you can’t believe the reality of what is happening. Women in hijabs driving a moped, houses in historical centers densely hung with satellite dishes, spontaneous communication on the streets - and all this is considered the absolute norm.

Among the Moroccans there are mountaineers - they live in areas where the benefits of civilization have not yet reached. And a few hundred meters from their neighborhoods there are tourist areas with beaches, luxury hotels, spas and golf clubs.

Russians

There are not as many Russian speakers in the Kingdom as in European countries - only a few tens of thousands. According to rough estimates, about 5 thousand live in Casablanca. Almost 80% of compatriots are women. Many moved here with their husbands. We met when they were studying at universities in the USSR or Russia.

The interesting thing is that real life Russian women in Morocco differ from the stereotypes associated with the position of the weaker sex in Muslim world. Morocco is a humane state in this regard. Here the fair sex is allowed much more than in other Islamic states.

How do women live in Morocco?

The Koran and Muslim traditions must be respected - this is an axiom, but Moroccan and Russian girls decide on their own whether to wear a hijab or not. There is no violence from the husband and his family in this regard.

The life of women in Morocco, especially in large cities, is approaching European style. Girls increasingly appear on the streets in comfortable T-shirts, jeans, dye their hair, and wear light makeup.

But tight-fitting tops with a deep neckline, leggings that emphasize all the curves of the body, the local population will not understand or accept. This also applies to the length of the dress: it is better to cover the knees.

Certain conventions do not limit the freedom and rights of representatives of the fairer sex. If earlier they unquestioningly obeyed the will of their father, and then their spouse, today the situation has changed dramatically.

Moroccans:

• They study at universities, although not everyone attended school before.
• They work, including in government positions. Almost 25% of doctors and teachers are female.
• Get married after 18 years of age. Previously, girls were married off as soon as they turned 15 years old.
• The bride does not need her father's consent to start a family. They won’t force her into marriage either—the girl’s consent is required.
• If previously children were considered the property of their father and remained with him in case of divorce, now they can live with their mother.

It would seem like paradise, but not everything is so rosy. A Muslim man, as before, has the right to have four wives. However, the first spouse must give written consent to each subsequent marriage. No consent - no harem.

It is difficult for foreigners to get a job. The exception is doctors - there are many vacancies for them. In any case, a diploma of education issued in another country will have to be confirmed. It is difficult to do this without fluent French.

French is not the official language (the official language is Arabic), but it is used for business communication, in the field of culture and education. Without mastering it, you won’t be able to get a qualified job.

The house and everyday life are entirely on the wife’s shoulders. It is not customary for men to help her with housework, but every family has the opportunity to hire an au pair. For an amount equivalent to 2-2.5 thousand rubles per month, the housekeeper will clean and do other work.

Housekeepers are predominantly village dwellers, which is why the cost of services is so low. Theft is not uncommon, so wealthy families prefer to hire trusted assistants and pay them more.

The only thing local men do is prepare mishui. This is lamb cooked on a spit with spices and vegetables. The dish is considered ritual, so it is served on royal holidays.

A Muslim woman and a Russian emigrant, even if she knows the laws a little and has courage, will never be left with nothing. To kick her out, the spouse must have serious reasons, for example, convicting her of treason. Words alone are not enough - witnesses are needed.

Moroccan couples, tired of each other, prefer to divorce in a civilized manner. The laws of Islam in relation to families, if preserved, are only in some villages.

The life of Russians in Morocco is inextricably linked with gold. They, like local women, greedily buy gold jewelry. Greed in this case is synonymous with pragmatism. Products from precious metals will remain with them in the event of divorce or death of a spouse.

Ethnic composition

The local society consists of representatives of two nationalities. 60% of the population are Arabs, almost 40% are Berbers. The total number of those living in Morocco is 35 million. The French, Portuguese, Russians, Spaniards and Jews make up only a small percentage of the population. No more than 550 thousand of them live permanently in the state.

Modern Berbers, descendants of the indigenous population, live in the mountainous regions and oases of the Sahara. They managed to preserve their language and some traditions.

The port city of Casablanca is considered the most populous. More than 10% of the population lives on its territory.

Rabat is the capital and cultural and industrial center of the state. It is permanently home to 1.6 million people.

The four largest metropolitan areas also include Marrakesh and Fez.

Jinns and other national characteristics

Foreigners will have to adapt to the way ordinary people live in Morocco, their mentality and national characteristics. Cunning and generalized judgments are in the blood of the local population. They don’t like to be specific here - they prefer to indulge in long, lengthy explanations, mentioning Allah inappropriately and inappropriately. This looks comical in the conversations of grandmothers at the entrance or businessmen at the negotiating table.

Moroccans believe that solutions to any issues come from a higher power, even when it comes to the timing of making a duplicate key, sewing a dress or providing other services. Don’t be surprised if a local resident explains the delay as the machinations of the genies.

Adults believe in their existence - not those fairy-tale genies that live in bottles or jugs, but creatures from the Koran that live human lives, give birth, but remain invisible to others. The locals are afraid of them.

Residents of the African country have another habit that hurts the ears at first. They swear with and without reason, often completely out of place.

Communication

Moroccans love to talk. The desire to communicate is in their blood, even spontaneously. A stranger has no problem approaching a passerby on the street and talking to him. It is impossible to predict the topic in advance - family, personal life, offers to show the city and surrounding area, work and much more.

The only taboo is discussing religion. Local residents, like all Muslims, treat their faith with reverence and respect. They understand that one incorrect word can offend the feelings of the interlocutor, so they put this topic out of brackets.

You will have to refrain from friendly hugs, pats on the shoulder, and kisses, because tactile contact is not encouraged among Moroccans. As a sign of greeting, people nod their heads to each other and occasionally shake hands.

You can’t kiss a woman’s hand even out of ignorance - in Muslim country this may be regarded as flirting and advances that go beyond what is permitted.

Behavior during Ramadan

Moroccan holidays are associated with religion. Ramadan is one of them; believers must observe a month-long fast, give up excesses, and cleanse themselves spiritually and physically.

Foreigners, however, note changes in people’s behavior - not in better side. People become gloomy and more often demonstrate intolerance and aggression in communication. Even drivers on the roads honk irritably at motorists and pedestrians.

Shops and cafes are closed during the day during Ramadan, and the streets become noticeably thinner. The fast will end and everything will return to normal.

Kitchen

National cuisine deserves tasting, at a minimum. Locals drink for breakfast green tea or coffee and a bun. The main meal is considered to be lunch. Products for its preparation are bought in the morning.

Sandwiches and snacks are bad form. Lunch should be complete, consisting of salad, hot meat, and snacks. Families dine at home, gathering around a common table. Even schools here provide a lunch break.

On Fridays, residents of the Kingdom traditionally gather for couscous. His time comes immediately after prayer. Couscous is made from corn grits, the grains of which are ground by women by hand.

In the Kingdom, all dishes are not served at once - they are served one by one. Dessert time comes after the main course: as a rule, fruits, fruit salads, yogurt, and sometimes cakes and other pastries are served.

The locals' favorite drink is mint tea. They drink it at home, visiting, at work, in restaurants and souvenir shops.

Housing

To understand how people live in Morocco, you need to look into the residential areas. Rabat and Casablanca are considered the most prestigious and expensive cities to live in. When renting or buying a home, the same principle applies as everywhere else: the closer to the business and cultural center, the more expensive.

You can rent a two-room apartment in a good area for 500-600 dollars, and for a villa you will have to pay about 1.5 thousand dollars a month. In residential areas, housing will be cheaper.

The “bedrooms” in Casablanca are built up with five-story houses with open entrances. The peculiarity of such houses is the windows, which do not have a uniform standard, shape and size. Because of this, it seems that in some apartments they are missing, in others they are partially walled up.

Shopping

Clothing, shoes, accessories and household items are sold in markets, shopping malls and branded clothing boutiques. Moroccans do not live richly, but many prefer quality items from well-known brands.

The population buys food and spices in markets and shops - there are many of them on every street. A supermarket with a self-service system is more difficult to find, especially in areas remote from the center, but this circumstance does not cause shortages or discomfort. After all, at the shopping malls you can always buy fresh meat, fish, seafood, spices, vegetables and fruits.

There is no frozen fish in the country - only from fresh catch. There are always seafood and seafood dishes on the tables. It is important to bargain with sellers, even if you don’t feel like doing it. Bargaining at the counter is part of the culture.

Food prices are three times lower than in Russia. But salaries are also low. It will be difficult for Russian migrants to find decent work. When deciding to move, it is important to remember that Morocco is a third world country, although wealthy foreigners feel almost like paradise there.

5 / 5 ( 502 votes)

A little preface. Since childhood, I have been an adventurous child, and I have never stopped in the face of difficulties; moreover, all my life they have attracted me, because I simply cannot live in peace. Moreover, I am an extremely fickle person, I am burdened (I think, like all people) by monotony, I did not like school only because for 10 years nothing new had happened: at 8.30 school, home, sleep, school again (with the exception of all sorts of there were affairs), then there was a university, I entered the linguistic department of management, I really didn’t like it, and I left it before the first session, my parents supported me, because I am the only child in the family beloved by everyone. I am quite a creative person, I saw my future in creativity, I wanted to draw, create, I also really like to write, even now I am receiving orders for various articles. I myself am from Kyiv and love my city madly, but living in it was becoming increasingly difficult. My parents have their own business, the foundation of which they built on their own, without theft or deception, but they began to be greatly discriminated against by competitors “with their own roof,” etc. I had the idea to go to the USA and build my future there, maybe even get married marry an American simply because of citizenship (I admit honestly), but it was during this period that I entered the best Kiev theater university on my own, I went there just for the exam itself and without preliminary preparation, I PASSED, I’m just delighted, and it seems here it is a happy ending, but it wasn’t to be. A year ago, a guy from Fez (Morocco) added me as a friend on Facebook; I knew nothing about this city, I saw and heard about it in the TV series “Clone” (I watched it as a child with my grandmother). And we began to communicate, at that time I was 18, he was 19, at this age in our country there can only be open relationships, we are both students, I was very interested in learning new things about his culture, because before I was extremely cautious about Muslims, very many girls I know suffered because of them.

After 2 months I realized that HE is the most close person for me, despite different cultures, and a month later he came to me. I wanted to meet my parents, I introduced him to them, but I said that he was a US citizen, because I was afraid of my parents’ condemnation, religion for my mother is the main factor, my sister was abandoned by a Muslim, and she suffered for a very long time about this, but he was quite he looked like an average American, his parents really liked him.

He stayed in Ukraine for 2 weeks, during which time we didn’t even have a hint of an intimate relationship, and before his departure he proposed to me... It was wonderful and painful at the same time, I couldn’t give up everything, the hard-won institute that I loved , as his home, and most importantly, his family, and his mother did not know who he really was and where he lived.

I thought about it for about a month and agreed, not because of the money, moreover, I was sure that he was a poor man, I was very afraid that he would turn out to be some kind of fraudster, this is very risky, in a Muslim country there will always be law on his side. Life, children - I realized that I was not ready for this, that first I needed to live with a person in order to understand whether I was ready to take such a step.

After my refusal, he came 2 weeks later and said that he couldn’t live without me, and that I was his family, and before the wedding we had no right to live together. After all the persuasion, I naturally melted, and the red tape began with paperwork. I also had to tell my mother everything, and I was sure that after telling the whole truth, she would definitely not let me go, and HE himself suspected what I had lied to my parents about (luckily they are not English-speaking). And then the red tape began with paperwork, getting to know his country and his parents (I told my mother that I was going on vacation with a friend).

When I was going to his country, I still had thoughts that now they would give me to some brothel (I’m so paranoid), but everything turned out to be much better: his parents accepted me, his whole huge family came, one of his brothers so I was married to a Ukrainian woman, this fact made me extremely happy, and it was Ira who helped me adapt and understand their language (his family also does not speak English). And then there was a return home, I decided to tell the truth to my parents, after which there was a huge scandal (like, what were you thinking anyway), naturally later they forgave me and accepted my choice, but before that we frayed each other’s nerves well, I’m still ashamed that I lied for so long.

My parents were at the wedding, two best friends and sister, you could write a book about the ceremony.Now everything is fine, my husband and I live in a huge penthouse where the whole family lives, in this house each family has its own apartment, the only common ones are a swimming pool and a gym, there is also a huge living room and kitchen. I had to convert to Islam, my husband did not insist, but for my mother-in-law this was the main condition, although the only one for me will always be God, and I still wear a cross, twice a year I come home for a session, although each time it becomes everything is more complicated, hubby doesn’t understand this, moreover, he wants me to take my parents to us, so that I stop this trip to Ukraine, there were a lot of disputes about this, but nothing can be done, that’s their mentality, yes I and I’m glad that I will see mom and dad every day.I can say with confidence that my life has been a success, no one offends me, I live as if behind a stone wall, I am an established woman, I don’t need anything financially, of course, I had to give up many things, but I don’t feel nostalgia. Therefore, girls, do not be afraid of your desires, do not believe propaganda, of course, you do not need to rush headlong into the pool, God protects the safe, if you love and believe this person, take risks, because I almost lost my happiness, and in fact, nationality - it's nothing. The main thing is that we are all human. If this story helped anyone, I would be very glad.

Elena_sl (Ukraine)

In 1994, when I was 25, I spent several weeks traveling alone in Morocco. Before that, I also studied Egypt for a year and even traveled alone to Syria and Jordan. I wouldn’t say that Morocco has the highest level of harassment, but I still learned a few rules for myself. And they, in turn, made my trip more enjoyable. And now, after so many years, I decided to write down all these rules so that those who are going to travel alone to these places do not step on the same rake and do everything as correctly as possible.

1. If someone talks to you on the street

You know, ordinary and really good people very rarely come up and talk to you on the street. Despite the fact that it is quite natural to start talking to your neighbor on a train or on a bus, with salespeople or other customers in a store, when suddenly someone starts clinging to you, it is unlikely that they are up to something good, most likely they need something from you. In the case of women, I can say this with complete certainty. Moroccan men will never get too close to a Moroccan woman. If they do this to you, it means they are showing their disrespect for you.

Something similar happened to me on the last day of my stay in Morocco. A man approached me on the street and intrusively began to offer his help while I was walking through the local market in Tangier. I decided not to give up and asked what made him think I needed his help. I also told him that he would never do this if I were a Moroccan woman. He, of course, began to deny it, but I didn’t give up either. Luckily, two local women were passing by and I demanded that he do the same to them. He refused and admitted that in this way he disrespected me.

It's better, of course, to just ignore them. Imagine that there is simply no one around you, even if they insist and rudely attract attention to themselves, saying that you are behaving like an ill-mannered woman, because you are not at home and should show respect to them. Trust me, normal people wouldn't behave like that, and they certainly wouldn't bother you. When they become simply unbearable, I loudly and confidently say one phrase in classical Arabic: “I don’t talk to men on the street” - La atakallem ma’a rrijalati shshari.

I do this as loudly as possible so that the people around us can hear me and understand that I behave with dignity (Moroccan women never talk to strange men on the street). As a rule, this works, and they respond with something like “you are acting like a typical Moroccan,” and even if they continue to insist, it is not for long. I think that this phrase is quite enough; continuing further explanations is fraught, since as soon as you start answering them, you will no longer get rid of them, they will follow you everywhere.

2. Move as quickly as possible

This way you won't hear what most people around you are saying, so it will be as if no one is bothering you. Many Moroccan men think that you literally crave their attention and will try to talk to you, even if it seems to you that you have shown absolutely nothing to them. The less you pay attention to them, the faster they will switch to someone else and fall behind.

3. Better not learn their language

Of course, when you are in another country, knowing at least a little of its language, it is much easier for you to adapt, but how difficult it is to live when you understand all the insults and swear words that the locals include in their conversation. It’s better not to understand anything at all than to hear it. It’s especially disgusting to be at the market, because every man there tries to say something that makes your cheeks flush.

4. Stick to couples or women

Moroccan men are incredible cowards. If you are with another woman (especially a middle-aged lady) or couple, they are unlikely to make any jokes in your direction, since the other woman may think that they are insulting her, and they will definitely not get away with it. So, if possible, it is better to stick to couples or other women on the street.

5. Don't be afraid to confront them.

Like I said, the men there are just terrible cowards. Several times in my practice it happened that some stalker followed me somewhere in the market and openly followed me around the shops. However, when I started reacting negatively to him, he would run away. There is no point in turning them over to the police; I actually had the feeling that they were paying her extra. But if you confidently and courageously resist them, most likely they will retreat.

6. Don't believe what they tell you on the street.

Local residents can also easily deceive you. They will direct you to where they are paid for it, convincing you that where you were originally going is very dangerous. Of course, they will insist that they have no benefit from this, but you shouldn’t believe it. Even the seller himself never admits that he specifically hired a person to call buyers to him. But be sure that they will definitely receive their commission, especially if you buy something from him.

7. Ask specific people for help

It is best, if you suddenly have such a need, to ask for help from women or older gentlemen. Young people will react quickly to you, but it would be better if they didn’t do this, in the end you yourself will regret that you turned to them.

8. Drive away the guilt

Of course, Morocco is a rather poor country, but you should not feel guilty about this and try to enrich everyone who comes your way. I personally chose for myself a certain amount of money that I could give away, and shared only with elderly men and women who are simply no longer able to work and earn money on their own.

9. Dress conservatively

I think you've heard this a thousand times already, but it's really very important. This doesn't mean you should dress like your grandma, just avoid wearing too short shorts or skirts, for example. Regarding wearing a skirt rather than pants, all I can say is that people treated me the same no matter what I chose. The only thing you must remember is that if you go to a mosque (this rule applies to any country), you must wear a decent skirt and a jacket with long sleeves. Wearing sunglasses is also a very good way to hide from unpleasant advances, since you definitely won’t meet the eyes of strangers, which means you won’t provoke them into ill-mannered behavior.

If you want to dress like Moroccan women, you have two options. You can wear a traditional djellabé, or robe. This option is great for those traveling alone, and also if you are not too pale. By the way, many Berbers themselves have whitish features and, in particular, blue eyes, so no one will find fault with you. You can buy djellabe at the market (don't forget to bargain) and wear it right over your usual clothes. You don't have to wear a scarf on your head, you can just tie your hair in a ponytail or braid, this look is quite common.

To be more in line with local traditions, you can wear sandals instead of sneakers on your feet. Of course, the fact that you wear a djellabé will not convince everyone that you are a native Moroccan, but it will make you look more harmonious in a given place, and you will be pestered less often. I've dressed like this several times, and it's truly happiness and an incredible feeling of freedom when you realize that you can freely move everywhere without worrying that someone will pester you.

10. Pull your hair back

I have already mentioned this, but this issue deserves a separate paragraph. It is best to braid your hair or tie it in a ponytail and tuck it under a scarf, hat or cap. This will make you look less sexy, which means you will reduce the amount of harassment to a minimum. I don’t know why Moroccan men consider loose hair the height of sexuality, but every time I wore a similar hairstyle, men simply had no end to it, and it was unbearable.

In general, I would advise not to trust anyone there. The women there (with the exception of the Berber women who will try to sell you “silver” jewelry in Marrakesh) are nice and quite pleasant, although they are unlikely to approach you themselves.

Of course, many people don’t care about you, and they are not plotting anything bad against you at all, but you still need to be as attentive as possible. If someone invites you to dinner and you don't mind, buy them a gift. If everything goes well, then the owner will simply be pleased with your gratitude, but if it was a trick, this will help you avoid unnecessary squabbles.

When I lived in Fez, I couldn’t find a bank where I could exchange my money for Moroccan money. I asked a local hotel owner if I could stay with them and pay the next day. So he was kind enough to let me not only pay later, but also loan me 100 dirhams when he heard about my plight. It is unlikely that anyone from my family would be as nice and responsive.

12. Etiquette and customs in Morocco

Meeting etiquette

• When Moroccans greet each other, they take their time and spend a lot of time asking how their family members and friends are doing, as well as talking about general topics.
• Handshakes are formal greetings between individuals of the same sex.
• This handshake usually occurs a little more loosely than in the West.
• After you have more or less gotten to know each other, it is customary to greet each other with kisses on the cheeks, starting with the left. Everything is accompanied by a handshake. Usually this happens again either between men or between women.
• When a man and woman greet each other, she should extend her hand first. If she doesn't, the man bows his head in greeting.
• When you greet not one person, but a group of people, you need to start with the one who is to the right of everyone, and then move from right to left.
• When you leave, you must say goodbye to each one separately.

Gift Giving Etiquette

• If you are invited to visit, you can take sweet cakes, nuts, figs, dates or flowers as a gift to give to the hostess.
• A small gift for children will be received positively.
• Do not bring alcohol with you unless you are sure the hosts drink it.
• Gifts will not be opened once they are received.

Dining etiquette

If you are invited to a Moroccan house, then:

• You must take off your shoes.
• Dress well and smartly. This will demonstrate your respect for the owners.
• Make sure your husband is invited too. Many conservative Moroccans do not accept a mixed society.
• Shake hands with each person present individually.

Mind your table manners

• Food is usually served on a knee-high table.
• The guest of honor usually sits next to the owner of the house.
• Before you start eating, you will be offered a special washbasin. Keep your hands in it until the water covers them. After drying your hands with the towel provided.
• Do not start eating until the owner blesses the food and begins to eat himself.
• Dishes are served in a common bowl.
• Eat from the section that is closest to you. Never reach out to those on the other side.
• Hold the food with a piece of bread or the first two fingers of your right hand.
• Eat and drink only with your right hand.
• Don't wipe your hands with a napkin.
• Water is often served in a common jug. If you want a separate glass for yourself, ask the hostess about it.
• After everyone has eaten, you will be given the opportunity to rinse your hands again.
• Expect to be offered more food than everyone else. The abundance of dishes testifies to the hospitality of the hosts.

Business etiquette in Morocco

• Moroccans prefer to do business with people they know and respect, so before building a business relationship, be prepared to spend time cultivating the relationship.
• It is much more important to have more connections than knowledge, so cultivate a network of contacts that can help you on the job, especially when it comes to bureaucracy.
• When you meet guests, offer them mint tea, this is a sure sign of hospitality.
• Moroccans have learned a lot from the French in their business, so politeness and formality are incredibly important to them.
• Moroccans judge a lot by your clothes, so be prepared to present yourself well.

Business meeting etiquette

• It is very important to make all appointments in advance, and confirm a few days in advance whether everything is actually going according to plan.
• Try to avoid meetings during Ramadan, as Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day during this holiday.
• Never schedule any meetings on Friday between 11:15 am and 3:00 pm, as this is when they pray.
• Always be on time, but be prepared to wait. They always try to arrive on time, but this is often an impossible task for them.
• Moroccans practice open communication even during a business meeting. This means that you may experience a lot of interruptions during this time. Someone may suddenly get up and start walking around the room, while others may even start a discussion on a completely abstract topic. You can join them, but under no circumstances return them to the previous topic until they do so themselves.
• As a rule, meetings are held in French, although sometimes English-speaking residents also meet. Find out in advance what language the meeting will be in and, if necessary, call an interpreter.

Business negotiations

• Companies are often structured hierarchically. The person who is at the top makes all decisions on his own based on what his group has provided him.
• Decisions are made after serious discussion.
• If the government is involved, the discussion will take even longer, since permission will have to be obtained from a huge number of different ministers.
• Moroccans always make their choice in favor of long-term relationships.
• Don't criticize anyone publicly. It is very important that you under no circumstances make your partners lose face.
• Moroccans do not tolerate confrontation at all. They can agree on everything.
• Expect a fair amount of haggling. Moroccans rarely make a final decision right away.
• Decisions take a very long time to be made. Do not try to force this process, it may be perceived as an insult.
• This society is ruled by bureaucracy. Most solutions require a huge amount of permissions.
• Even when solving very simple problems, you may need many meetings.
• Don't use high pressure tactics as they may end up working against you.
• Moroccans are very strong in negotiations.

Etiquette in clothing

• Business attire has a formal and very conservative look.
• Men should wear business suits dark color.
• Women wear smart business suits, dresses or pantsuits.
• Women should dress very modestly, with skirts covering the knees and sleeves covering most of the shoulder.
• Don't wear expensive accessories.

Business Cards

• The exchange of business cards is absolutely simple, without unnecessary pathos.
• On one side, the business card should be either in French or Arabic.
• When you give your business card to another party, make sure that it is facing him with the side on which everything is written in his language.

Morocco is a country whose rules of life are quite different from those in Europe, therefore, when going on such a trip, you should be sufficiently familiar with these tips. This way you will protect yourself from troubles during your holiday in Morocco.

If you are familiar with this country from personal experience, share your impressions with us!

1. The people of Morocco love King Mohammed VI very much. They know about his theft and new palaces, but he stopped the war in the country, and for this people are grateful to him.

2. Moroccans love their rulers so much that in every cafe and store you can see a portrait of Mohammed V or Mohammed V, his father.

3. For some reason, many people believe that Marrakesh is the capital of Morocco, but this is not true: the capital is a city.

4. National currency is dirham, 1 USD equals 9.97 MaD. This currency is among the most stable against the USD.

5. With the change of king, the portraits on Moroccan banknotes also change, and a portrait of the new monarch appears on them.

6. More than half of the Moroccan population are Arabs. Berbers make up about 40 percent.

7. It is believed that the word “Berber” came from the French language and comes from the word “barbarian”.

8. Previously, male Tuaregs had to hide their faces, and they had to kill everyone who saw him, otherwise the men would kill themselves. Currently, this tradition is no longer followed.

9. Many children begin to study the Quran at the age of 5 and do this until they reach the age of 12.

10. A prayer room is required at any gas station or train station.

11. After Arabic, the second most popular language in Morocco is French. Also, many Moroccans know the Berber language, the written language of which is almost lost.

12. Both Berbers and Arabs, both nations are traders by nature. So feel free to reduce the cost of the product at least 10 times.

13. If traders are too persistent, you can always get rid of them by simply starting to speak a foreign language.

14. In large Moroccan cities, market traders know the word “Humpty Dumpty” and some numerals in Russian.

15. European tourists wishing to travel to Morocco must only fill out a migration card. But in order for a Moroccan to be allowed to come to Europe, he needs to go through many complex procedures.

16. Residents of tourist cities regard white people as money bags from which they can make good money. The population of other settlements does not care at all about visiting travelers.

17. In Morocco, the most interesting places are where tourists almost never go.

18. Moroccans, as a rule, really don’t like to be photographed. This rule especially applies to women wearing hijab.

19. Residents of Morocco can ask to be assistants, and then start asking for money for this.

20. In tourist places in Morocco, it is often practiced to exchange clothes or electronics for Berber souvenirs.

21. As a trick, when concluding a deal with a Moroccan, you can say that you “took him,” but at the same time ask him for some kind of souvenir.

22. All leather products in Morocco have a certain smell. You shouldn’t be surprised, because in the tanneries of Fez the leather is pre-soaked in horse urine.

23. Although Moroccan shawarma is similar in preparation technology to Moscow, it is half the price and tastier.

29. As a rule, the general price level in Morocco differs little from Moscow.

24. Dates grow on huge twenty-meter palm trees, so picking them is far from safe.

25. In the oases of Morocco, the ripest, very large dates themselves fall to the ground from palm trees.

26. The colors of the walls of residential buildings in Morocco are the same as the color of the soil on which they are built.

27. Jebel Toubkal is the highest point in North Africa and the Sahara. This mountain, over 4 thousand meters high, is part of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains.

28. The ski season in the Moroccan mountains lasts from December to February.

29. Berbere whiskey is a strong drink made from green tea, mint and sugar.

30. Berbers sometimes drink wine.

31. Concrete wells in the desert are made entirely by hand.

32. The water in desert wells is warm and has a slightly sandy taste.

33. The cost of a dromedary camel, also called a dromedary, is one thousand euros.

34. Many taxis in Morocco are Mercedes S class from the 80s.

35. Most often, cars in Morocco run on diesel.

36. In Morocco, four people can sit in the back seat of a taxi.

37. Mopeds are common means of transport in Morocco. They can accommodate a family with two children and small luggage.
38. Moroccan women, to avoid the heat, can wear several layers of clothing, often leaving black on top.

39. Only very rich men can have several wives in Morocco.

40. When people in Morocco hear about Russia, they immediately think of Vladimir Putin.

41. Motorists stopping at traffic lights in Morocco can simply start honking. At the same time, they do not want to offend anyone, but do it with the best intentions, for example, to greet or wish peace, etc.

42. Moroccans usually behave very calmly when driving.

43. Children in Morocco play football well and are skilled with the ball.

44. Football in Morocco is very popular and hotly discussed.

45. Moroccan television shows Mexican TV series translated into Arabic. Usually it is men who watch them most often.

46. ​​Beggars in Morocco take taxis.

47. In Casablanca, slums are often located next to luxurious palaces.

48. The fences enclosing rich houses are made of concrete, and glass shards are placed along the upper edge.

49. The expression “Allah Akbar!” means “Allah is Great”, “Inshallah” means that everything is the will of Allah.