Travels Through Morocco - Chefchaouen the Blue Pearl, Chapter One

Words simply cannot describe the beauty of this place.

Hidden away in the Kif Mountains just a four-hour coach ride from Fes is the city of Chefchaouen. This was to be the highlight of the trip; this mystical, wonderful city with its walls, houses, pavements, everything covered in blue. I heard so much about this place from fellow travellers both outside of Morocco and during my trip, and I knew I had to come here.

Costing me only a very modest 80 Dirhams ($8.40), I took the earliest coach I could at 8:00am in the hope of spending the most time during the day in Chefchaouen. I heard stories of people getting a "Grand Taxi" there, but its only worthwhile when sharing a full taxi. As I was going it solo, I decided to take the coach, which was very comfortable with aircon, reclining seats, an onboard toilets, and can I just say one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen outside a coach. The green hills rolled for miles as we climbed higher into the Kif mountains, with shimmering blue lakes nestled in between the hills. I had quite a late night in Fes the previous night so I had planned to sleep on the trip, but the view wouldn't let me. Instead of resting, I found myself staring outside the window for the entire journey, fighting through the tiredness.

As I stared at the view, a glimmer of blue buildings was in view, hidden away within the rolling hills and next to an imposing mountain. As we got closer, the city was teasing me, showing bit by bit until it became clear that we had arrived. Finally - the city of Chefchaouen! I collected my bag and ran to the taxi rank like a little excited child, impatient to see the famous blue city and to be surrounded by it. The city was split into two parts, the modern half with the bus station and taxi ranks which was a plain white and some blue, and the old traditional city which was layered in a pure blue coating. Slowly, the taxi made its way through the tight roads, suddenly out of the blue (no pun intended) we were in the midst of the old city and I. Was. In. Awe.

Blue as far as the eye could see. Blue pot plants. Blue walls. Blue arches. Blue houses with blue windows with blue stone staircases leading up to them. Even the ground was blue. I couldn't get enough, I was almost dizzy from the sheer beauty of it all. I walked through, eyes darting around because I simply didn't know where to look. I didn't even care where my hostel was. I was exhausted and drained from the trip carrying my rucksack through town but even so, all I wanted to do was explore this city forever, if I could. Even the prospect of peppermint tea couldn't hold me still - I wanted to walk, and walk, and walk.

Eventually I found my hostel and settled down as fast as I could. Even in my hostel was a tide of blue, even my room was blue!! My hostel was called Dar Antonio which literally translates to Antonio's House in Arabic (please correct me if I'm wrong!!). I met with the owner, Antonio, and he told me of a view of the whole city which is breathtaking at sunset - the Spanish Mosque. That would that evening's exploration, and you won't believe how gorgeous it is. Stay tuned for my next post! <3

Chefchaouen the Blue Pearl, Morocco

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Details
🌏 | Chefchaouen, Morocco
📷 | Samsung S8 and Canon SX730 HS
🎨 | Lightroom Mobile edits used

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Over the next few weeks I'll be trekking through Morocco and I'll be share with you my thoughts, feelings, tips and warnings about visiting each place along the way. Being a photographer, I will be doing this while sharing my photos with all of you too! I sincerely hope you all enjoy.

Please do follow if you want to keep up with my travel through this wonderful country <3

Any upvotes or reblogs are hugely appreciated! Much love, everybody.