Chefchaouen – The Blue City

It has been recommended time and time again, and it seems like no visit to Morocco is complete without a visit to the beautiful blue city of Chefchaouen. The city is in the Rif Mountains, which are the “little” mountains near the Northern coast.

chefchaouen from overlook 720x480

Chefchaouen perched in the Rif Mountains

chefchaouen jeep camping 720x480

The campsite above Chefchaouen

Camping is above town in a great campsite, where I leave the Jeep and wander down a stone staircase into the centre of town. I’m immediately inundated with the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling market. From fresh fish, spices and vegetables to clothes, rugs and leather goods, it seems this market has everything a person could desire. If not, I’m pretty sure it would appear if requested.

chefchaouen potatoes 320x480

Fruit and veg at the market

chefchaouen plaque 720x480

This place is seriously old

chefchaouen vegetables 320x480

More vegetables

chefchaouen spices 720x480

oooohhh, spcies!

I spend hours wondering the market and the beautiful blue city, soaking it all in. Different people tell different stories about why it’s all painted blue – some say it’s to reduce mosquitos, some say it keeps the concrete city cooler and some say scorpions don’t like the blue. Whatever the reason, it makes the city extremely photogenic and a great place to spend time.

chefchaouen blue stairs 720x480

Everything is blue

chefchaouen blue door 320x480

Everything is photogenic

chefchaouen blue alleys 720x480

Even the stairs are blue

Of course I’m talked into buying a berber carpet made from camel hair “on sale” and of course I try a Chicken Tagine – a kind of slow-cooked crock-pot chicken and vegetables with something like 40 different species. Amazing.

chefchaouen weaving loom 720x480

Making a berber carpet

chefchaouen rugs 2 320x480

Hand woven beber carpets

chefchaouen rugs 320x480

The attention to detail in the carpets is shocking

-Dan

12 Responses

  1. That’s a great shot of the blue city from the mountains. Did you get any interesting food at the market?

  2. John says:

    I think you meant spice.

    How is the jeep holding up

  3. CJ Kovic says:

    I read about your trip a couple months ago on imgur. I’m thrilled for you to be completing your dream of driving around Africa. My friends, Herman and Cande Zapp just completed about 2 years in Africa as part of living a 12 year journey that started in Argentina. Bon Voyage, fellow traveler. Fare well.

  4. Joseph says:

    What an amazing inspirational dream!!
    Can’t wait to shake hands when you pass by the source of the Nile in Uganda

  5. Akinsola says:

    I got here from a businessinsider.com post about your Jeep and your traveladventure across Africa, I am inspired by adventure of people like you and I wish you divine security as you journey through my Africa.

  6. João Lisboa says:

    Hi Dan,

    Just came across to your web site. Really incredible journey you guys have been doing.

    We met in Marroco back in May 2016 just when you started your trip.

    Remember a yellow land cruiser bj40 with a green roof tent? We met again in Fez international camping.

    We are now on the road to Mauritania.

    You have taken some pictures of my landcruiser, could you send it across.

    Good luck, you really inspired us with all your stories and experiences.

    All the best

    • Dan Grec says:

      Hi Joao,

      I remember you guys! I’m happy to hear you are setting out to travel again!
      I do have that photo somewhere, though I’ll have to dig it off an external hard drive. Give me a week and I will find it!

      All the best, have fun on the road!

      -Dan

Leave a Reply to CJ Kovic Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>