Younes Travel Assistance: Travel Assistance and Money

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How do you count the money?

In Morocco there is a dirham, a half dirham, two dirham, and some bills that look like 100 and 200.

These odd assortments of money are confusing to negotiate because they have no equal in the United States.

You have a two dollar bill nobody uses, a fifty cent piece used only in slot machines, and the annoying gold colored, eight-sided, one dollar coin that disappeared because nobody knew who that lady was and it was confused with the quarter in size.

Unless you want to get jipped every time you make a purchase, you need somebody to count back your change and see if it is correct.

The coin on the left is a one dirham piece. With one coin like this you pay the "bathroom guardian" which is some random lady who stands at the bathroom when you use it ans expects you to pay her. There is no unemployment insurance in Morocco, and she is not really employed by anybody. You don't have to pay her but she will make faces at you. So start carrying spare change because some, not all, of the bathrooms come with a floor toilet where you squat, and this woman who dumps water on it and cleans up after you leave.

For a small taxi you need 7 dirham. That's this coin and to of the above. However, they will ask tourists for much more because you don't know how much things cost.

Five dirham will buy you some raw vegetables at the market. Herrera soup with some bread is 5 dirhams. With a pot of tea, add 10 dirhams.

Some tea on the street will cost you 7 dirhams. A cup of coffee is 1 dirham but you will think it is baby size, so you have to ask for the larger one, which is still a third the size of a regular American coffee cup, and there are no refills. For their "large" coffee with milk you would pay 27 dirhams. If this is added to a breakfast paller with toast and honey you will pay 40-50 dirhams.

Try to carry smaller change because some places just dont like cashing larger bills, especially taxis or bus drivers, who also take cash.

There are bus passes, like a bus visa card. It's easier than carrying cash.

For 100 dirham you can take two people to dinner. It may not last you more than a day, because of inflation, and you will be surprised how much locals pay for items that are mainly imports, like shampoo.

For 200 dirham you can dine at a fancier restaurant, not just sandwiches.

This is a 2 dirham piece. Just collect them until you get something usable. I know, they are a little wierd to use for Americans. Just don't confuse it with a 1 dirham piece or the bathroom lady will die of happiness from the large tip.

A half dirham might buy you a chewing gum or a cookie, but this is the smallest coin we have. It's like half a nickel because we don't really have smaller change.

This Canadian group went to the Sahara to explore the scenery. People come with an endless variety of requests for things they would like to see.
This group paid about 400 dirham to go from Essaioura to Rabbat and then to Azrou. It's about the same to go to the Sahara if you want to go there.

This couple from London sings and was interested in music related activities.

You can buy your own drum for 100 dirhams, or take English lessons for 200 dirhams per month.

These Russian business owners came to look around and share our great beaches.It is 60 dirham to rent a camel, and 120 dirham for one hour on a horse.

The friendly locals in Essioura, eager to help with directions and locations. They tell us how to find the hotspots. Networking helps us find transports. This man is a local driver of the taxis.

If you need to buy a suit, it will cost you 1,000 dirham for a custom suit, measured to your size.

American walking around Azrou, looking at the fish farms and local growers and their crops.

This is me, pretending to be Mexican. Did I pull it off? I wear whatever you wear. Show me!

This group is touring Ifrane on a sunny October day.

Many people come to Essaouira for sailing, boating, fishing, kite surfing, and regular surfing. They also come for riding the camels and horses, volleyball, and we also get groups of artists and teachers who enjoy the summer weather.

If you want to go surfing, it is 300 dirhams to enroll in surfing school.

Let's not forget fantasia, the yearly event that gathers world-wide tourism. Photographers come to shoot the fantastic displays of prowess as riders demonstrate their skills in riding, shooting, and gaming.

These events are free, and you can buy shawirma sandwiches on the street for 20 dirhams, and 14 dirham for other sandwiches.

Sand and sea worshippers have plenty of time to work on their tans and make sand castles. There is no shortage of company here on the beaches of Essaouira.

This incredible group of international surfers came to hang out and practice their skills.

And here, an eager group of die-hards attempted to ride from Essaouira to Sidi Kaouki, which is 27 kilometers across beautiful coastline.

Side Kaouki has a surfing school, which gathers water lovers, but all along the coastline surfers can be found due to the excellent waves, clear water, and lack of sharks.

Here this skilled surfer in Essaouira catches a wave, while behind him ancient fortresses and castles climb the skyline; remnants from when Spanish, French, and Portuguese invaders roamed the land.

Fishing boats color the docks, with fishermen selling a variety of fresh fish and sea specimens each day, to include eel, octopus, shrimp, and lobster.

Groups of riders come to Essaouira to enjoy the beautiful clean beaches.

A variety of rocks, caves, caverns, and mountains intrigue climbers. Here in Sidi Kaouki these tourists enjoy waterfalls as well, where campers can also be found.