The silence on the other end was killing…
“ Quel envoi ( what shipment)?” Abdel answered while he was seemingly enjoying a good breakfast.
Simple, normal and bien sûr, are words that I learned over the years, couldn’t be more divers in context and content in every culture then coffee, real good coffee
Sourcing in Morocco needs the right amount of preparation. Preparation and tools to make it a success story.
In part three we’ll finally into putting out that order!
Sourcing in Morocco needs the right amount of preparation. Preparation and tools to make it a success story.
In part two we dig into having a structure, so you will not lose your focus in a place where..well…everyone seems to lose it!
English down
1) omdat het november is en een straaltje Marokkaanse warme zon heel erg welkom is.
2) omdat je eigenlijk nooit een reden nodig hebt om te reizen!
3) En hallooo, het is hier wel AFRIKA hé!
4) het exotische karakter valt absoluut niet te onderschatten...
5)Het zou wel eens goedkoper en veel meer fun kunnen zijn om dat ticket te boeken en te onderhandelen in de soeks, dan dure wijn te drinken in je luie zetel bij de haard terwijl je online zit te kopen.
1) because it's November and you could do with some sun.
2) because there is always a reason to travel
3) because héj! THIS IS AFRICA. not just any place on earth!
4) it's exotic beyond imagination
5) it might be cheaper to book a trip and get the fun on bargaining out here then to order and ship in your lazy corner in front of the fireplace.
Dus waarom zou je er nog maar aan denken om de marsepijn en de tapas aan de kant te schuiven?
En net daar komen wij met de redding! Wij zijn altijd op jacht naar gemakkelijk te pakken en 'redelijk' gemakkelijk te onderhandelen items.
Beschouw het als een starterspack: 'shopping in de souks'
So why bother to even think about coming from behind that glass of glue wine when you don't know what to expect out there?
Now that's what we did for you! Trendhunting the souks to see what's hot, easy to pack and has a fair level of 'how do I negotiate the price'. Let's consider it a starter pack....hm
Forget about the handira* and say HELLO handira poof. It's hot, and even I needed a change after being bombed with handira blankets over the past 4 years. The poof is THE new handira IT thing. Basta!
when it has a ponpon, it's IN. It does not matter. After the sequins, some clever Moroccan came one sunny day with a ponpon and voilà (pardon my french) EVERYTHING has a ponpon nowadays. However, keep it stylish and go for a nice wool blanket with ponpons. After all you will return to the bitter cold when you get back on that plane don't you?
- Say hello to the IT shoe*. We soooo love the hairy scary ones. I swear, you might think they run off by themselves. COOL!! (and warm too 😚)
- And why don't we dare to go for some colour? Be honest, running around here in Marrakech will get you at a critical point of colour overload. But, you will NOT be able to resist it. You will come home in your gray white wood Nordic inspired home and OMG there you are with this flashy pink and green basket. I know the feeling. You will first want to hide it from your friends. But then, you realise it looks STUNNING. Well done! you passed your comfort zone!!
- everyone has these nieces, uncles, mothers in law that one wants to impress, but not in spite of anything. And yep, once again, we have you covered! While hunting the souks for what really matters 😝 you just grab left and right and all these beautiful, colourful, pink and purple, shiny things for about 1 to 10 euro, pile up and...everybody is happy!
* handira: traditional Moroccan wedding blanket. Used as a cape by the bride on her wedding.
* it shoe: Babouches seem to be hot and trending. If you tell this to a Moroccan at the street he will look at you with a face as if he had known it all along...
With temperatures above 43 degrees C. being usual in July and August you might want to bring in a healthy dose of 'pool', 'lazy nothing' and 'people watching' in your stay in Marrakech this summer!
My program for two American ladies coming from a
and in an urge for some last minute shopping and relaxing by the pool in the beautiful
where they are staying...
Met temperaturen die op een dag gemiddeld niet onder de 43 graden gaan in juli en augustus is het aangeraden om de nodige porties 'zwembad', 'niksen' en 'luiweg mensen begapen' in het plan in te lassen!
Mijn shopping tour voor twee Amerikaanse dames die na een yoga retreatje in Essaouira nog even de portemoné willen laten wapperen in de Medina van Marrakech en die laatste 'must haves' ook willen combineren met luieren aan de pool van La Mamounia...Je betaalt er tenslotte voor hé!
Best hours to be active
before 11 a.m.
after 6-7 p.m.
Saturday.
After Arrival around 11.30 a.m. check in at the hotel and take a taxi to DAR BACHA.
Enter the Medina (8) along the palace and passing
.
There are a hand full of nice shops in this street and some old Foundouks ( the former hotels for the tradesman in the early days, now turned into shops, tourist office etc… (in the film
you can see the spirit of these foundouks as it used to be in the sixties)
Walk all the way to (6) the restaurant
where it should be a little fresher to sit and have lunch in a lush garden. (it's a very small entrence but it is stunningly beautiful inside)A must visit while there anyway: ;) ;)
has her concept store inside the patio on the first floor.
After Lunch take a walk (just around the corner) to the best placeupcoming street in the Marrakech Medina with creative design and clothing (7)
You can find the concept store of
Morocco ( one of the designers is often there on Saturdays, when not in Ibiza promoting his new store). In this street, you'll find several new brands and do visit the corner shop of
opposite. An Italian designer that I can highly recommend.
Still feelng fresh enough after this? Ask for the directions to
(don't mix it up with CAFE DES EPICES!!)
Terrace des épices offers on two floors lovely design , not cheap and not all 100% original but a lot of goodies for real shopaholics at one place. The rooftop has a nice terrace for a drink or lunch but on hot days I think it's not a good option.
Go back to Dar Bacha and take a taxi back to the hotel to enjoy the afternoon by the pool.
___________________
meaning tea cookies goodies and the best things La Mamounia has to offer you ladies ;)
___________________
At about 6.30 p.m.
Take a taxi to DAR BACHA again and this time, walk to (4)
.
If it's calm, ask if the owner is around if you want to have a first-hand guidance! He might just do that!
Le Jardin secret closes at 8 p.m. and that is just the right time to cross the street to
(3) to have a drink at the rooftop.
I do not suggest you have dinner there as I do not like it.
Dinner options:
(5)
- be sure to makereservations before
(1)
- be sure to makereservations before
Both would be best booked some days in advance….
From El Fenn, it's easy (along the outside of the Medina wall) to go to
(2) to soak up the nightlife with a stroll and a coffee
From there take a taxi back to the hotel.
Sunday morning - if you manage, get up early and be around 8 at
. It is THE BEST TIME to visit Majorel gardens before going to the airport.
It would take you one hour or max 1,5 hour to visit.
 |
| source: friso-oost |
Forget Comfortzones
It's a Cross-Cultural jungle out here, be safe with your pocket survival tool. The e-book to hold on to from your phone when things kind of get out of hand…
Let me tell you this!
You don’t ‘do’ the souks like your local super market.
Before you know it, you’re heading home with a flying carpet and Aladin’s lamp. Well make it 10 of each because it was a deal :) (you thought)
Learn the art of stepping into this ‘other’ way of shopping.
Why a price never is ‘just’ a price. Why Everything is negotiable
Why you should trust your guts.
The importance of relationships and networking.
The way to turn any deal into a win-win
How you can learn and enjoy the DRAMA :)
AND WHY you‘d better be PREPARED
