WOX TRAVEL CONTEST | WEEK 10 / Chefchaouen: A Visual Feast of Blues Streets

Situated in the heart of the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco, there's a place washed in an enchanting range of blue hues. This is the historic city of Chefchaouen – picturesque, unique, and inspiring. This little town was a true delight for me. The area where it's located is incredibly scenic, and the mountain backdrop combined with the blue houses creates an impressive contrast.

The city isn't small, and not everything is blue. Yes, many things are blue – the taxis, the street poles... but for a city of 40,000, many things are not blue. So, here comes my first recommendation: stay in the old medina of Chefchaouen (when you open the map, find the Kasbah and the area around it).

When we asked the locals why everything is painted blue, we heard various answers. Some said there's a spiritual explanation and that it makes them feel closer to God. Others believe it's a tribute to the mountain spring that provides them with clean, cold water. Some think that blue stone is the best remedy against mosquitoes. The least romantic, but probably the most realistic theory is that the city was painted blue in the 1970s to attract tourists. If you're wondering how they maintain the beautiful blue color – they refresh it every year, meaning they repaint it regularly.

The atmosphere in Chefchaouen is surreal. It's unlike any other place I've experienced in Morocco. Chilling in the park, we heard these awesome Moroccan tunes from a bunch of dudes nearby, jamming out on their guitars. And then, wandering through the twisty-turny streets of the old town, we stumbled upon loads of craftsmen selling all sorts of cool stuff – like super fancy carpets and vibrant ceramics.

The stairs, street lamps, and flower pots casually placed on the blue stone create true art in the town. Even the laundry hanging on the streets added to this picturesque scene.

We wandered up and down the stairs and streets, enjoying the playful Moroccan children and the relatively calm life and less aggressive shopkeepers. It's worth noting not to photograph people; the women shy away, and you might even get an elbow, as I almost did unknowingly. Understandably, the locals value their privacy. The place is quite small, and people protect their personal space. After Marrakesh, where someone tried to rob me, I was cautious. Despite this, everything in this town is much calmer, and people live at a slower pace with more smiles on their faces.

"Marijuana, hashish, cannabis" – a shady guy followed us, offering rather than seeking from us. We got rid of him, but only until the next street, where another "new friend" from the local population started repeating the same offer. It was almost dark outside, there were still many tourists around, and Chefchaouen is known for its cannabis and the cannabis fields hidden in the mountains. If you're curious enough, someone might even take you there, which brings me to my second recommendation: just don't do it, unless you're adrenaline seekers or looking for a place that's not a dream for most people! Alcohol can be hard to find in Chefchaouen, but cannabis lurks around every corner.

I was enchanted by this city, an atmosphere with much more decent people and colors, where the blue hues remind of a film set, but real and authentic.

Enjoy

If you want to visit another city, you might want to check out this post from Мarrakech

https://steemit.com/hive-185836/@kozanozdra/wox-travel-contest-or-week-6-or-morocco-marrakech