Marrakech

[Bosco 1]

Gosh, I LOVE the (now 3 dirham) orange juice in Djmaa El Fnna. LOVE IT. When I am in Kech, I drink it every day, sometimes with grapefruit mixed in.

Drooling now.

Oh me too! Drank a few glasses every day. #42 was our favorite, lol.

[StupidJourney 0]

You can pay a little bit more and go to one cafe near by where it's MMMMMUUUCCCH better and more sanitary!

[jpaula 20]

I should put the apartent in my name?? Good to know as I always send the husband in to bargain alone, minus the American wife, and I assumed apartment renting would be the same. Prices mysteriously jump when I walk in the room.

We are married and have piles of papers to prove it. We were married in the US so our marriage cert is in English. When a hotel in Algeria wouldn't accept this we broke down and did all the paperwork to get the Algerian papers. So, English, French, Arabic, take your pic. Swimming in paperwork.

Amanda, what guide book do you write for? I have long thought we should all be writing guidebooks. Very glad that someone is! Now, why aren't we all running import/export businesses? (Can you tell I have spent the past week brainstorming about how to make a living living in N Africa?)

My tourist plug of the day: Last July we stayed at this riad (http://www.riadmimouna.com/En/index2.htm) and really liked it. Nothing too fancy, but charming and comfortable. I am trying to book it for our first two weeks this time as a base to use while we look for an apartment to rent. Plus, the guys who run it are really helpful and can probably point us in the right direction.

I am really glad to have everyone's neighborhood suggestions as the only ones I saw when last we were there were the Medina and Gueliz.

Thanks all!

[peezey 0]

You can pay a little bit more and go to one cafe near by where it's MMMMMUUUCCCH better and more sanitary!

I don't understand what can be more sanitary than a man cutting and squeezing the fruit in front of you?

My tourist plug of the day: Last July we stayed at this riad (http://www.riadmimouna.com/En/index2.htm) and really liked it. Nothing too fancy, but charming and comfortable. I am trying to book it for our first two weeks this time as a base to use while we look for an apartment to rent. Plus, the guys who run it are really helpful and can probably point us in the right direction.

I second this recommendation!!!!

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

I don't understand what can be more sanitary than a man cutting and squeezing the fruit in front of you?

i suppose it all depends on what he was doing prior to squeezing that fruit?

[Bosco 1]

You can pay a little bit more and go to one cafe near by where it's MMMMMUUUCCCH better and more sanitary!

I don't understand what can be more sanitary than a man cutting and squeezing the fruit in front of you?

The cafe orange juice comes from cafe-sanitized oranges from the King's own crop

[StupidJourney 0]

I haven't read the other replies yet, but I will give you a small overview.

Marrakech has gotten more expensive but it is still cheap by American standards - if you were to live in the douars (neighborhoods) like Douwdiat or Dar Zitoun or even the medina you could find something for 1500-2500 dirhams ($160-$270) a month. A nice set up with good bathroom, roof access and a few bedrooms, etc in a the neighborhoods around Gueliz (the new city, very trendy and modern) is a lot more -- starting at 3000 dirhams and up. However, by our standards, not too bad a price. Eating in Marrkaech is cheap -- of course plentiful souks and groceries, etc. If you want to have a more posh experience you could rent a riad, but those are really expensive (but don't miss checking them out!)

About staying in country. If you plan to stay longer than 3 months, yes you will need to apply for a carte de sejour. I have had friends who just went up to Ceuta or Spain (mainland) for a day and came back (the stamp on your passporte will suffice) and did without the carte and managed to stay in country a year or so. There will be some documents you need to rent an apartment, though - but I think as a foriegner it will be waived. Put the apartment in YOUR name, as an Algerian/Moroccan he might be harrassed for being with you. Also, didn't see if you are married or not but this can affect things. Carry around your marriage cert. when you go in public. Unlike Casa and Rabat, in Marrakech there are scores of "tourist police" who will demand to see it when they see a Western woman and a Moroccan walking around together. This happened to us a few times. If you are not married, I suggest getting a document taht says you are engaged.

That is it for now, I will read what other people wrote.

Can you tell I write for a guidebook? Haha. Anything else, just PM me. Marrakech is like my home.

Amanda

can vouch for zitoun, it's not too far but can be annoying to find a taxi sometimes. that's just my opinion. (and those of hamid!)

[peezey 0]

I don't understand what can be more sanitary than a man cutting and squeezing the fruit in front of you?

i suppose it all depends on what he was doing prior to squeezing that fruit?

Definitely, and of course, cafe peeps don't do anything untoward prior to squeezing...

[sarah and hicham 3]

I drank the fresh orange juice there too. It's sooo good and refreshing! I never had any problems. They just squeeze juice from oranges... what could be wrong? Mmmmm.

[MrsAmera 41]

I think most people warn against it not because of the juice but because of the glasses that it comes in. You don't know what they are washed in (could be a bucket behind the stall) or how many people used it. But I guess the same goes for any restaurant or cafe you would go in!

[sarah and hicham 3]

I think most people warn against it not because of the juice but because of the glasses that it comes in. You don't know what they are washed in (could be a bucket behind the stall) or how many people used it. But I guess the same goes for any restaurant or cafe you would go in!

That's true... I have a pretty weak stomach and it didn't bother me. Bring your own glass!

[deeshla 0]

I think most people warn against it not because of the juice but because of the glasses that it comes in. You don't know what they are washed in (could be a bucket behind the stall) or how many people used it. But I guess the same goes for any restaurant or cafe you would go in!

That's true... I have a pretty weak stomach and it didn't bother me. Bring your own glass!

I always brought a big Sprite bottle and asked them to fill it up. 60 cents for a bottle full o' goodness and vitamins -- that is why I love Morocco. Then 3 or dirhams for a roll of msmen with cream cheese spread on it (or honey).

Really drooling now.

I should put the apartent in my name?? Good to know as I always send the husband in to bargain alone, minus the American wife, and I assumed apartment renting would be the same. Prices mysteriously jump when I walk in the room.

We are married and have piles of papers to prove it. We were married in the US so our marriage cert is in English. When a hotel in Algeria wouldn't accept this we broke down and did all the paperwork to get the Algerian papers. So, English, French, Arabic, take your pic. Swimming in paperwork.

Amanda, what guide book do you write for? I have long thought we should all be writing guidebooks. Very glad that someone is! Now, why aren't we all running import/export businesses? (Can you tell I have spent the past week brainstorming about how to make a living living in N Africa?)

My tourist plug of the day: Last July we stayed at this riad (http://www.riadmimouna.com/En/index2.htm) and really liked it. Nothing too fancy, but charming and comfortable. I am trying to book it for our first two weeks this time as a base to use while we look for an apartment to rent. Plus, the guys who run it are really helpful and can probably point us in the right direction.

I am really glad to have everyone's neighborhood suggestions as the only ones I saw when last we were there were the Medina and Gueliz.

Thanks all!

I write for Fodor's -- look for the new Morocco edition coming in January (*shameless plug mode off*)

I second the brainstorming thing -- I think there are a lot of opportunities there and things are still relatively cheap (though those riads are getting snapped up like crazy -- and expensive).

I think you are right to have your husband do the bargaining at first -- and you can wait behind a corner or at a cafe! Then, once you have a quote, join him and SURPIRSE! no tourist tax for you. I hated that my very presence raised the price of anything 400% but c'est la vie (or "doonit aya" as they say in Berber)... Putting the apartment in his name is no big deal I guess if you are already married. I was thinking maybe you were just engaged. Officials are just more accomodating to foriegners than to their own, which is sad and sick but true.

Good luck!