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Social & Cultural

The unwritten rules

Tea, bargaining, dress codes, photography, time, cash, staring, and the social codes visitors encounter.

11 observations

  1. 01Is it rude to refuse tea?Tea is a social contract.Offering it means you're being received as a guest. Accepting means you recognise the relationship. It creates a shared pause — business may follow, or it may not.→
  2. 02What should I wear?Shoulders and knees covered.→
  3. 03Can I photograph people?Ask first.→
  4. 04Can you show affection in public?Kissing or heavy physical contact is culturally out of place and legally punishable.→
  5. 05Is Morocco safe for LGBTQ+ visitors?Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Article 489 — 6 months to 3 years.→
  6. 06Should you remove shoes?In homes, riad living areas, and mosques — yes.→
  7. 07Why does time work differently here?Two systems running at once.→
  8. 08Why does everyone want cash?Card acceptance is patchy.→
  9. 09How does bargaining work?Expected in souks, not everywhere.→
  10. 10Why does everyone ask where I'm from?Conversational opener, not interrogation.→
  11. 11Why do people stare?Curiosity, not hostility.→
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MethodologyDerb is an independent urban reference. Content is based on direct observation, local residents, and research into how Morocco's cities actually work. Cockroaches, plumbing, heat, cats, and everything else.

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