Mmorocco

back from a week in Marrakech

I'm just back from a week in Marrakech - absolutely loved it!

I wore long trousers or skirts at all times and usually vest/thin strapped tops but with a loose cotton shirt over the top and always had a pashmina/scarf at hand. If I was on top of the tourist bus, at a rooftop terrace restaurant or somewhere quiet I would strip down to the vest top to soak up the gorgeous heat of the sun. When on the streets I'd wear the loose cotton top over the vest, and if I felt I was being particularly looked at I would wrap the pashmina around my shoulders. There were other women wearing a lot less and looked quite comfortable but I also saw women who were walking around hunched with arms crossed across their chests and looking very uncomfortable - I can only imagine they were on their first walk through the Medina.

I wasn't unduly harrassed, none of the men touch, but I found that some them can give a look that is so penetrating it feels like they're more than touching. It's quite unpleasant, paticularly when coupled with whispered comments or even just a sort of "tsk" sound. Unfortunately it's all done so slyly , softly and quickly that my boyfriend never saw it happen and for a time he thought I was being silly and over-reacting by wrapping myself up in layers and layers!!

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Moroccan Clothing

Morocco is a country located in Northeast Africa and is known for its rich culture and active traditions such as celebrating weddings as great gala events with brides that are pampered and covered in henna designs. Traditional Moroccan weddings are a seven day affair with numerous pre-wedding ceremonies. Pre-wedding ceremonies include giving many gifts to the bride to help her prepare for married life.

Takchita (alternate spellings: takshita, tackshita, tackchita) is a Moroccan traditional women's garment that, like the Moroccan caftan, is worn for celebrations, particularly weddings. It is composed of two pieces; a dress as a first layer, often of fine but not ornately decorated fabric, and a more elaborate second layer or over-dress that often buttons up the front using the traditional sfifa and akaad closures. The upper layer is often richly adorned with embroidery, beading or sequins.

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come back from a week in Marrakech and Essaouira

I've just come back from a week in Marrakech and Essaouira and found that when I was with my (female) friend I had virtually no hassle, when we went out on our own we both had quite a few blokes come up and whisper things to us while we were walking, usually along the lines of "hi how are you" but one did say something rude. On the whole, neither of us had hardly any hassle and thought all the reports are ridiculously overblown. We both wore long sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts all the time and wore a little make up as well - as other posters have said it's really hard to imagine why you would wear skimpy tops and things. Tourists who were wearing skimpy clothes seemed to get hassled constantly in the Medina, whereas we didn't at all.

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