That was a wide passageway in the medina. If you zoom in, you get a general idea as to how narrow these passageways can become. It's definitely not a place if you're claustrophobic!
Do you recall me saying that either we would rock the casbah or it would rock us?
In the developed countries in which we live, selling is really just a spectator sport. If your interested in buying an item or have a question, you ask a sales person (if you can get their attention). We've reached the nadir (from naḍhīr in Arabic) when it comes to selling, as an activity, with self checkouts!
In the medina and, throughout much of the developing world, selling is a full-on, participatory activity whether you like it or not!
There are street vendors everywhere. They are incredibly observant of human behaviour. Give them a millimetre and that's more than enough. Their techniques are numerous, varied and their understanding of psychology is impressive. They love the word, no, because that is always the starting point. There are many of them. Everywhere. The only choice you have is to engage or remain silent.
Now, I realize that I've just painted a scary and dangerous picture. In fact, it's just a preconception of a culture that's different from ours. These same people, who were on our tail and won't take no for an answer, were incredibly helpful. Numerous times, in that crowded medina, they made sure we didn't get lost and redirected us when we'd lost track of the rest of our group. Not even once did they try to take advantage of our vulnerability in a strange, crowded and foreign environment. They had a sense of humour and could recognize it in others.
One very persistent street vendor offered us Tangiers tee-shirts. The price started at 8€. They accept any western currency (including CAD) and seem to have currency calculators built into their heads! Naturally, like so many times before, I said, "No". With that, this 50-something year old man's smile lit up. An opportunity!
"For you, only 7€."
"I don't like the colours", said Bonnie.
As you would expect, he started to show us all of the different colours he had available. "No", I said again firmly as he continued through the shirts.
Just as I thought that we were making it out of the woods, Bonnie looked at one and said, "Well, that one's not bad."
Now I knew I was in trouble.
"Your wife really likes this one and I'll give it to you for only 6€."
"No", I said, once again as firmly as I could, knowing that I was now skating on thin ice.
At this point, we'd lost track of the rest of our group and the street vendor could feel our discomfort. All negotiations stopped while he helped redirect us in the direction our group was heading.
"Only 5€. I have a wife and children to feed."
"No, I'm afraid not." We were getting close to an exit from the Casbah and would soon be back on our coach.
"Okay. Two for 10€."
Ahah! He didn't realize that he'd given me an exit.
"Oh!", I said, perking up. "How about three for 15€?"
He looked at me and then broke out into a smile. I had realized his "offer" for what it was.
"You're pretty good", he said with a smile as he walked with us to the exit from the Casbah.
"Have a safe trip", he said as we parted. "Come back soon" and he was gone.