Hi. We didn't go into the country with a tour, but ended up taking a 3
day excursion into the mountains. It was a cheap tour, organized
through a sort of backbacker hotel in Marrakech (I would know the name
if i heard it, can't recall now). We went into the Atlas mountains, to
the Sahara, and through a lot of small villages. To be fair, we had few
problems in these mountain towns because tourism is obviously so
important. (It still happened, but after the cities it seemed like
nothing). We did complain about the guide when we returned to the hotel,
and they seemed to take it very seriously, but as for the cop-a-feel
policeman, we really had no one to complain to. Giving a statement took
6 hours and a dozen cops, not very professional, plus all the other cops
in the van saw the incident and did nothing. I would contact the
embassy if I thought it would do any good, but I think the everyday
.ual harassment of western women is too ingrained in the culture.
Someone told me that the men don't understand they are being offensive,
that it is almost a involuntary reaction, but I think not. The staring,
the hissing, the CONSTANT 'ca va beautiful lady! ca va?", and my
favorite, the circling around you like a predator... well I think these
.ually frustrated guys can obviously tell that we were not impressed
(and sometimes upset) but looked at the whole thing as their right. As
I said, this became much less of a problem when we walked with our male
friend, but increased tenfold if me or my sister ventured out alone.
This would warrant an official complain to Moroccan embassy in her
country.
True- Guides try to be your friend- invite you to tea- ususally to
sell you something. Some do get girlfriends- but they are gentle in
their appproach.
Never has an official stepped out of place with me and I am an average
female and have been around officials for Many years in Morocco- and
in many places.
Never, has one made any .ual advance that was out of order????
This is a police state. One complaint to the police and they get in
trouble.
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