Gifts- What to bring

Gifts are an important part of visiting family. From my experience, they really depend on the family you visit. Generally, things that are some sort of set work well. It is important to keep in mind that Moroccan supermarkets (such as Supermarche or Marjane pictured here) sell all the items that you could possibly gift. But this does not mean they are not going to be appreciated. Everyone likes new things, especially for the home and kitchen. You will find that some Moroccans use household items to the death. They will keep using a towel or an old spoon long after it has been destroyed. This gives the guest an opportunity to gift. Here is a list of ideas for gifts that I found work.

Candy: boxed chocolates, truffles, and even traditional American candy such as snickers, and M&M's.
Clothing: new, brand names
Perfume
Towel Sets
PJ sets
Picture Album
Dinner napkin Sets
Some medicines
Electronics: mp3 players
New Silverware set
New Set of mixing bowls
New Set of Kitchen Utensils: mixing spoons, whisk, can opener, salad tongs, ladle..

For poorer families, other items would also work. These include hand soaps, toothbrushes, toothpastes, lotions, deodorant, as well as any of the items above.

Bathrooms

Traditional Moroccan bathrooms consist of a hole in the ground and a wash. This can pose a problem for tourists. As a traveler, you will find that many public places do not have a public bathroom. For those places that do, some may not carry toilet paper. This includes those even places that have the regular toilets.

It is best to be prepared for the worst, especially if you are experiencing a bout of traveler's diarrhea. Always carry a packet of tissue or a small roll of toilet paper in your purse with you.I would also recommend carrying a tiny makeup towel or face towel. The bathrooms without toilet paper are also those without towels to dry your hands after washing them. You should also carry loose Moroccan change because many places want you to pay for the bathroom use.

When you really need to go, look for nicer cafes or restaurants. They are more likely to have a restroom than a small shop. The best public bathrooms in Morocco are in the Mc Donalds. They have everything a bathroom in the US would have. Pictured here is the Fes center ville Mc Donalds.

How to avoid getting sick in morocco

Water
Whenever traveling to any other country, you will find the water chemistry is different than in your own. For many people, drinking it will cause horrible pain and diarrhea for several days up to a week. If you are only staying for a few weeks and want to avoid the water chemistry change over reaction, avoid drinking fresh water. You can buy bottled water and mineral water on every corner in Morocco as well as in the local grocery stores. You can also buy soda or fizzy water. It is best to stick to mineral water versus regular bottled water, because mineral water is less likely to be contaminated in the bottling process.

Drinking Moroccan tea or coffee is perfectly OK and will not make you sick, because the water has been boiled.

Homemade Food
In general food that is cooked through will not make you sick. But do not be surprised if you find it was mixed with bare hands. This CAN make you sick as bacteria on the hands gets transferred to food. There is no way to really avoid this other than to watch for it and avoid eating the foods mixed with bare hands.

Moroccans use a lot of oil and fat in their cooking. If you are sensitive to this, watch out for it. You can find your breakfast eggs dripping in oil unless you ask for them to not use as much.

Street Vendor Foods
Most people recommend avoiding foods sold by street vendors in Morocco. I have to disagree. As long as it is not soaking in oil (too much can make you sick), and clean, it should be fine. All kinds of cooking doughs sold on the streets are made with bare hands and lots of oil. Foods like sugar coated roasted almonds are perfectly OK to eat. You just need to be a bit pickier than in the US.

Taking pictures

Here are a few tips on taking pictures in Morocco.

Women
First of all, avoid taking pictures of women without their permission, especially if they are wearing the veil. Some Muslims believe pictures are haram, or forbidden, especially of women. You dont want to offend anyone.

Children
On the streets, there are some beggar children running around trying to sell stuff to people, especially tourists. If you want to take their picture, be prepared to pay them a little for it. Otherwise refrain from taking the shot, or do it at a distance very discretely.

Royal property
Morocco is a kingdom, run by a king. I would say it is best not to take pictures of the royal property to avoid looking suspicious. You can still take many pictures of the city without any problems.

What is appropriate Clothing

In the US it is perfectly OK to wear sweat pants and a sweat shirt outside. This is not the case in Morocco. Even the poorest of Morocco dress up when going anywhere other than work. This includes going shopping or taking a walk down the street. You will find them wearing all the latest styles and brands. Even the ones in traditional Moroccan dresses wear fancy jilbabs outside. Bring several nice pairs of dress pants, dress shoes, and formal tops. It is best to choose nice but modest clothing that does not expose the breasts or anything above the knee. This will save you from awkward stares and disgust.

It is Not necessary to cover your head if that is not something you do. Morocco is a mix of people who cover their heads, and just as many people dont. Its a personal choice.

Medina

Prices
"Medina" means city. Shopping in the local medina marketplace can be a great experience. This is where you will find the best prices for goods and souvenirs. My advice is to take a local with you who will haggle for prices. Never take the first price, and know that since you are a foreigner, they will try to jack up the price for you. If you dont like the price one vendor gives you, you will find just as many other vendors down the same street selling the same thing. You will notice most shops are clustered together by what they sell: all the food shops on one street, clothes on another, raw leather on another, shoes on another...There is no need to buy at a price that doesnt fit. Just say "shookran" (thank you) and keep walking if the vendor refuses to satisfy your price.

Beggars
I have found that beggars tend to go to locals for money because they cannot have a conversation with you. This consisted mostly of older women or some women with babies on their backs. Some of the beggar children may approach you, but a blank stare usually lets them know its hopeless.

Tour Guides
It is important to take a local with you when shopping in the medina, but a tour guide is really unnecessary. You can just as well see the medina by yourself as you can with a guide. If you already have a local with you, no tour guide will annoy you with their services. Note, if you want to visit a mosque (there is one in the center of Fes medina) you must take your shoes off. Just watch what people are doing before jumping into some place with restrictions.

Parking
The medina is a bustling center, especially after lunch time. It is best to go in the morning if you want to be able to park a car. Know you will need some loose change to pay a parking "tip" which is paid when you leave, not when you arrive. Otherwise, just take a taxi. They come and go by the dozen, so you should have no trouble go to and from the medina. Once inside, be prepared to walk. The streets are not made for cars but for shoppers.

For winter travelors- additional items to bring

In the wintertime, Morocco gets lots of rain, but the temperatures are fairly mild. They stay between the mid 50's to lower 70's on some days. You need to make sure you are properly dressed for a Moroccan winter. First of all, many homes in Morocco will have a washing machine, but not a dryer. This is because the weather is usually warm enough to dry clothes on the line. In the winter time, this is not very practical because of all the rain. You will need to take this into consideration when packing sufficient clothes and items such as socks and underwear. Find out if your home in morocco will have a washer and dryer, and pack accordingly. Here's what else you will need:

1) Rain boots:
The streets will get muddy from all the rain, especially in Medina, the old city. Bring shoes you are not afraid to get mud and water on.

2) Light Jacket:
Since the weather is so mild, you will need a jacket for going out. Its not necessary to bring a heavy coat but you will find many Moroccans wearing them in the winter. The heavy coat is really optional, but the light jacket is a must have.

3) Hat or baseball cap
If you plan to shop the famous Medina, bring a cap. Many areas of the walkway around the shops are covered loosely with wood and will drip on your head while you are shopping.

4)Rain coat or umbrella
When it rains, it pours. Be prepared for the moroccan winter rains. They are not cold, but they are wet and muddy.

5) Hair Dryer:
Moroccan temperatures throughout the year are very warm, so most Moroccans air dry their hair. But if you are traveling in the winter time, it may take an entire day or more to completely dry out your hair. Be prepared to bring a small hair dryer and an electrical cord adapter. You could always buy a hair dryer in Marjane, but the price is ridicules and the quality of the dryer is bad.

6) Warm PJ's
Moroccan homes are not made of wood, they are made of brick and mortar. Many times, the weather outside the home will be warmer than inside. You will need to have some warm PJ's or clothes to wear around the chilly house.