Haggling: it's an addiction

After a long 24 hours (had it really only been a day?!) in Marrakech, we were ready to explore the markets in the square and see what kinds of fun stuff we could scoop up. The street vendors had almost anything you could ever want to buy - soccer jerseys, designer handbags, shoes, hats, tea sets, jewelry, watches, scarves - all for prices subject to haggling.

It took a few tries to learn the strategies behind haggling- a type of dance between the vendor and the buyer, where you gauge each other's interest and willingness to compromise. Each purchase is a prize that you have earned and the thrill of it makes you want more. Most of us had things in mind we wanted to buy, but some purchases were a result of a deal that was too good to pass up.

Throughout the weekend, I scored some beautiful handmade necklaces, a couple bracelets, and a purse. I also bought some of the most delicious dried figs and apricots I have ever had and traditional Moroccan spices (in case you haven't seen my Pinterest account lately, I am counting down the days until I have a kitchen and can cook for myself). And the best part was that we could indulge in these treats without actually spending alot of money.

On our last day in Marrakech, we took a guided tour throughout the historic district. It was actually really nice to be able to walk through the more intimate areas of the city and avoid the overly touristy markets. We visited a mosque, a palace, a burial ground, the Jewish quarters, the Souk markets, and another pharmacy for an overall well-rounded tour.

At night, the main square transformed from a space owned almost exclusively by food and fruit vendors to one with dancers, pastry vendors, and henna artists. I got a henna tattoo on my hand, which actually turned out to be quite beautiful and well worth the price. A couple others got henna against their will as these women grabbed their appendages and wasted no time in applying the henna to their skin. The funniest case was when a woman insisted her design was for good sex and proceeded to apply a type of synthetic henna that now looks like a drawing made form black Sharpie on my friend's hand.

I still can't quite believe that I actually got to visit Morocco- trips like these are what remind me that I still have so much left to learn about the world. But for now, I think I'll focus on finishing up Spain (and perhaps a little bit of Paris too).