Shopping in Africa

In the old town of Marrakech (the Medina) there is a giant maze of intricate alleyways filled with markets, so-called souqs. There are whole streets dealing for example only with furs, shoes, pottery, bronze items, vegetables, meats, etc. It is great fun to go into this colourful maze, but it can be difficult to find your way around - and there are not many street names to help. There are also many good restaurants and roof terraces in the Medina, but you must know where they are located, since they are well hidden in closed riads (courtyards).

Far too often do magnificent old markets and bazaar turn into nothing more than tourist traps. They become places where it's more likely to find cheap Chinese-made souvenirs than local crafted arts. The main bazaar in Tunis can seem a a little like this at first. As the endless hordes of cruise travellers and package holiday vacationer clog the main artery of the bazaar, it's actually a fairly negative experience. But one alley does NOT the bazaar make! Taking any of the dozens alleys that lead off the main road will transport you to the bazaar you were hoping for. Locals meet, greet and haggle for daily products. Workmen pound away on their metal or wood. A men sit and smoke hukka/shisha/nargile before or after visiting one of the lovely mosques. In the case of the Tunis bazaar, those who wander are not lost, but rewarded.