Morocco 2023-2024 Day 24 (1/11/2024) - Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, the Blue City is built on the side of a mountain, so lots of hiking up and down today. When we entered the square two boys 13 & 15 offered their services as guides through the maze of streets in this city.  We have been amazed at the kids here, respectful helpful and very courteous. There are two mountain peaks above the city and they say that the woman who founded the city thought they looked like horns, so the literal translation of Chefchaouen "Look to the Horns" in Berber.



Earlier we were in the Atals mountains, but this city is on a second mountain range on the other end of Morocco called the Rif mountains.



Nobody knows why everything here wa painted blue, but it is thought that because the color blue deters mosquitos, that the locals started painting everything some shade of blue.  





Everywhere you look there are different designs to the doors and entry ways of the homes






Cafes line the square and there are people in the square trying to get you into their cafe


The dog followed us through about 80 percent of our walk through the city








Lots of narrow streets like this, but you have to listen and step aside for motorbikes that come through theese streets




Our guides


The older of the two boys really had an eye for photos and used Zak's IPhone to get some shots of us




Unlike nost of Morocco where French is the second or third language, here Spanish is usually the second language Top step arabic, second Berber, third English, fourth ?, bottom Spanish




Shopkeeper in one of the shops, he is Berber and Bedouin from the Sahara


Some Berber women grabbed us and dressed us in Tradional Berber costumes






The boys got a kick out of us dressed as Berbers


Ice cold spring comes out of teh side of the mountain and down through the city



We told the boys we wanted a good restaurant for lunch, so they took us here where they said the locals eat


Cecile had a perfect lunch, Chocolate Mousse with Bananas and chocolate syrup, but of course with a Coke Zero to cancel the calories.


View of the square from the restaurant


Hiking back down the hill



Back to our Hotel

Morocco Trip Day 25

 

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