The Souks of Morocco. Habous Souk Casablanca.
I only had time for one souk visit thus I leave room here for more members to chip in. Vast supplies of readymade garments and tourist items of the nature Moroccan are mixed with a blend of African/Arabian and other goods..there are few authentic pieces...as low as a few % .
What is clear is that souks draw from the immediate surrounding area and as it fans out from the region and surrounding countries. In Muscat, by comparison, the pull is identical in nature with local authentic items (getting scarce) backed up by trade from Yemen, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Thailand!
Habous is a lovely souk set in and amongst an ancient town design centred on an old style Mosque and the streets that spin off it in all directions. However, looks can be deceiving since it was constructed a lot later than first thought... Heres what Lonely Planet says...
The Quartier Habous, or nouvelle medina , is Morocco-lite - an idealised, almost toy-town, version of a traditional medina with neat little rows of streets and shop stalls. The district was built by the French in the 1930s as an attempted solution to the ongoing housing shortage. It marries the best of traditional Moroccan architecture with modern facilities and French ideals - even the mosque fronts onto a strip of grassy lawn just like a village church.
For fans of the bustle and chaos of traditional markets, it may feel too sanitised to be authentic, but if you fancy some Moroccan character without the associated smells and hassle, it's got a decent selection of bazaars, craft shops, bakeries and cafés. The Quartier Habous is located about 1km southeast of town. Take bus No 4 or 40 from Blvd de Paris, across from the post office.
Read more:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/...#ixzz3kIZVMyA1
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.
