one quick story from Morocco, before Steph gets to it:
So I was bartering for more or less the first time in Marrakesh. Actually I had tried to barter earlier that day, for a book that as it turned out had a fixed price. But this time I was in a street vendor, buying something (I can’t say what, it’s someone’s present). This item cost 60 dirham (moroccan money, about 6 euro or 8 dollars), I was determined to pay no more than fifty.
So let’s see where this determination takes me:
I start off well, going well under my final offer:
“I’ll pay…40 dirham”
the vendor thinks a moment, counters: “45″
“50!” I blurt out. (dammit!). Steph and Claire leave the store laughing, saying, “Did he just say…?” I cannot believe it. What did I just do?!!
I struggled to hide my interesting mixture of shame and amusement as I pay my 50 dirham (well, I didn’t going to pay more!). I guess technically it worked out, but I am convinced that noone has ever bartered up like I just did. The funny thing is, after a few minutes, I was the one who couldn’t stop laughing about it. This was thursday night, I still burst into fits of laughter about it.
Four beers, bartering up, what next?!!
