Chefchaouen : The Blue Gem of Morocco

I seriously have never heard of this place till I got to Fes, the oldest medieval town of the Arab world in Morocco. Looking for a one-day trip, Chefchaouen wasn't a difficult choice where different shades of blue images draw anyone to it. Called the Blue City, it took less than 4 hours drive from Fes going up North. Accordingly, the city is easier accessed if coming from Tangier where it takes only about 2 hours drive.

Crossing the lush and greeny Rif mountains, the area didn't coincide with a preconceived notion of the desertly Morocco. According to our driver, this part of the country is very much agricultural. There is a lookout over to Chefchaouen as your car descend one of the Rif mountains.

Checking some handicrafts on our first stop coming from Fes.

There are few stories on why the town was painted blue. How true they were, only the old locals knew. In the spiritual way of things, the blue color signifies love, peace and heaven on earth or something like that.

From the town square, alleys go up in different directions where unending shops can be found, together with small restaurants, residences and hotels. More residences can be found as you go up. With a couple of mountain peaks as its' background, it gets dramatic as glimpses of blue sky become prominent.

Chefchaouen is known for their leather and woven blankets and handicrafts, among others things. I read somewhere that it is the cannabis capital of Morocco. I saw some herbs and herbalist shops, but nothing printed as cannabis.

In saying that, a guy i happen to have shared a transport to the Sahara was telling me of buying a kilogram in Chefchaouen for personal use while travelling in Morocco. Apparently, the place to buy was higher up the mountains, as he got lost, it took him an hour climb from the town. It's very cheap for anyone who wants to check that out.

For a day trip, we had 3 hours to wander around. It's a shopping destination if one is so inclined in buying local products. Make sure to have a space in your luggage. There is a great temptation to buy, specially as their products are beautiful and cheap, their manually and brightly woven carpets are amazing and beautifully displayed by the blue walls. I think that in ourselves, we weren't sure where to look as every corner was something to feast our eyes on.

Chefchaouen is more charming than Fes and Marrakech. You won't feel harrassed to buy anything from the vendors as well as from the locals, just try to not include them when photo-taking or ask permission when doing so.

I guess that my only regret was that I would have stayed longer for a day or two. If that will happen in the future, Tangier will be the nearest airport. If wanting to go to Marrakech from here, include a day for land travel. Or better yet, hire a car. I met a lot of travellers that have done this.

All images are mine, taken with my Samsung S7.
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