Moroccan Adventure

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Saturday, 29 October 2022 - Drove from Rabat about six hours to the blue-painted town of Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains, walked around the narrow blue alleys and photographed colorful doors and bougainvillea, and hiked up to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint for panoramic views of the blue city nestled against the mountain.

Chefchaouen pronounced (chef chowen) is a small town in the foothills of the Rif Mountains. The town has become famous for the blue color of the homes. There are several theories as to why the walls are painted blue. One popular theory is that the blue keeps mosquitoes away. The blue is said to symbolize the sky and heaven and serve as a reminder to lead a spiritual life. However, according to some locals, the walls were mandated to be painted blue in the 1970s to attract tourists.

morocco2022 — The shade of blue varies from home to home and many times on the same house.

morocco2022 — We arrived with time to walk around before dinner.

One of the many beautiful doors.

morocco2022 — Bougainvillea mixed with blue.

morocco2022 — Pots high on the wall along a blue alley.

morocco2022 — Virginia Ann poses next to a blue entry.

morocco2022 — Street sign - very pretty signs.

morocco2022 — Blue alley leading to a pale blue home.

morocco2022 — Virginia Ann walking along the main street near our hotel.

morocco2022 — A blue door.

morocco2022 — Vegetable basket

morocco2022 — An alleyway under a home - since the town is on a mountain, there are many opportunities to link homes over the walkways.

morocco2022 — Rather remarkable is a "year" or open space near the front door.

morocco2022 — A home over the "street".

morocco2022 — A tiny door.

morocco2022 — There is no standard blue - they simply add this dye to white paint and go.

morocco2022 — Thankfully people seem to stay with blue instead of whatever color they want.

morocco2022 — Pretty stairs - narrow and no handrail...

morocco2022 — Blue tunnel.

morocco2022 — All blue to a rough looking door.

morocco2022 — Another small blue doorway.

morocco2022 — Paw prints - in blue.

morocco2022 — We hiked up to the Spanish Mosque (which is not an operating as a mosque) where you get a great view of the city.

Looking into the city, the Casbah stands out from the blue homes with its high walls and big trees in the courtyard.

morocco2022 — A panorama of the city - you see the blue hues on the homes. Many of the homes and streets are painted blue up to halfway of the home, so from above you do not see all the blue.

morocco2022 — The town cemetery from above.

morocco2022 — A photograph further back showing how the town is nestled against the mountain.

morocco2022 — Stack of bricks on the trail back to town.

morocco2022 — The blue town.

morocco2022 — Blue steps to a blue door - again...

morocco2022 — This was a nice door to end the day - beautiful inlay and not just blue.

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