Rule number one on the streets of Marrakesh: Don't get hit. The second bit of information that you need to know is that in my explorations of Marrakesh I have only found one stop light. Crossing into full on traffic has already become completely normal. I generally go out with my sister and we usually have our elbows latched or are holding hands so crossing is quite easy. For most of this week my rule of thumb was to find a local and follow them, but within the span of a week I have also figured out how to cross on my own. You just have to cross without pausing because you think a car will hit you (it will only hit you if you stop moving) or thinking about the fact that you're walking into full on traffic. This still scares me since at home I tend to be the person that crosses the street and seems to get nearly ran over each time. However, I am already getting used to it and I am beginning to understand that you just have to cross.
Aside from the chaos of crossing the streets, the streets of Marrakesh hold a huge diversity of people. In the U.S. people are separated by their cars, but in Marrakesh everyone ends up on the street together. You will find women in the niqab, poorly dressed tourists, men in jelabas, people in typical American styles, and Berber women with tattoos on their faces. Marrakesh is a city that surprises me everyday and will likely continue to have a daily surprise.
Aside from the chaos of crossing the streets, the streets of Marrakesh hold a huge diversity of people. In the U.S. people are separated by their cars, but in Marrakesh everyone ends up on the street together. You will find women in the niqab, poorly dressed tourists, men in jelabas, people in typical American styles, and Berber women with tattoos on their faces. Marrakesh is a city that surprises me everyday and will likely continue to have a daily surprise.
