Hippie Trail: the Blue City of Chefchaouen

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We arrived here today after a gorgeous bus trip across the plains and into the Rif mountains...

A strangely wonderful moment was Macklemore playing "Can't Hold Us" on the bus radio....! (A Seattle based band...)

All along the road were carpets of wild flowers....lots of olive trees and wheat being grown in between. Much of the harvesting, including wheat, is done by hand, although we saw several small combines. Donkeys are used for plowing in most of the smaller fields, and used for transport to and from the fields.

The main crop of this area is still kif, and while it is illegal in Morocco, obviously there are ways around the laws. This town was a backpacker hangout for years, but has now become more mainstream. It is touristy, but not overly so yet. Prices for tourist goods are lower, and there is a bit less pressure to buy than in Marrakech or Fes.

After checking ito Casa Perlita (once again, thanks Blythe!), we walked around the medina, ate an omelet, visited the Kasbah (fort) and are now relaxing....

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Photos

Riad Staff
The very gregarious cook and waitress, and the manager Kacem, who reminded me a bit of Kramer on Seinfeld. Both were so helpful and fun to be around....

Cafe and Butcher shop
Our rest stop combo!

Cafe and Butcher Shop!
Nothing like a cup of coffee with animal carcasses dripping on the floor behind you....!

First View of Chefchaouen
The blue paint originated with the Jews who added indigo to their whitewash to distinguish their neighborhoods from the Muslim ones.

Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen was totally isolated from the non-Muslim world until 1920!
When the Spanish first broke into the town in the 1920s, they were amazed to find Jews speaking a Castilian that had disappeared from spain 600 years before!

Chefchaouen
Kasbah (1471) and main mosque (1560)

Chefchaouen Main Plaza
We ate lunch here, in the bright plastic chairs.