{"id":10844,"date":"2020-02-24T11:45:25","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T19:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/?p=10844"},"modified":"2020-05-11T09:10:08","modified_gmt":"2020-05-11T16:10:08","slug":"chefchaouen-morocco-the-blue-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/24\/chefchaouen-morocco-the-blue-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Chefchaouen, Morocco: The Blue City."},"content":{"rendered":"

After a few days in Asilah, we had a rough idea for our route through Morocco. The plan was to explore inland first before it got too hot. So we pointed our van east towards Morocco’s Blue City, Chefchaouen.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

The northern part of Africa is so green!<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Not an unusual sight in Morocco. Sheep getting a ride.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

We arrived in Chefchaouen and had to decide whether to parking lot camp or campground camp. After scoping out a spot or two, we decided it would be more relaxing for us to stay at a campground. It the cost to stay here is about $9 for a camper with two people. We got charged an extra $2 for the kids.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

And plus we had some wetsuits, bathing suits and towels that needed to be dried after our beach stay. The fog\/ gloom was thick in Asilah at times, which made everything wet and hard to dry outside.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

As soon as we arrived, a black and white cat showed up and made himself at home. The kids named him Beef Ramen because that’s what they were hoping I was going to make for lunch. Haha.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Not Rio the Village Dog.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

The next day we headed down the hill to the old town of Chefchaouen.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

As soon as you entered the old walled portion of the city (called the medina), you are surrounded by the color blue. They say the city\u00a0was a refuge for fleeing Jews who painted the walls blue to remind them of their faith. The Jewish people have since left and the the remaining Berbers and Muslims kept the tradition going. Although many dispute the claim of Jewish people bringing the famous blue color here but that is the story we chose to believe. However it got here, it makes for a stunningly beautiful medina.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

So blue that Luka took a swim through it.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

After meandering through the narrow blue walkways of Chefchaouen, it opened up into a large square and we found ourselves at our first Moroccan kasbah (fortress). The kids immediately made friends with stray cats.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

We found a restaurant in the square and got to taste our first tajines which are stews cooked in an earthenware pot with a conical top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Look who we saw next to our table? One tired mama cat.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

We gave her some of our chicken and offered our babysitting services as well.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

We then headed across the way to the kasbah.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Where the girls got their first henna tattoos.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Mila opted for a traditional design.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

And Ava picked out a giraffe. The artist added the the city’s name spelled in Arabic to her arm as well as a treat.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Then we kept walking to see what else we would discover.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

49565232932<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Luka said that this was the bluest alley yet and asked for a photo. Mila made sure to pose with her signature double-chin face. Ha.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

And one more photo for me.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Our walk back up the hill have us a cool view of the city.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

We even met a cat that had one eye that matched the city.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

As soon as we got back home, Beef Ramen the cat made himself cozy.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

And the kids journaled in their memory journals.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

That night, a kind German couple invited us into their rig and shared their favorite places in Morocco with us which made us even more excited to head to our next destinations.<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Oh and Luka discovered his love for reading this week thanks for Diary of a Wimpy Kid \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Chefchaouen,<\/p>\n

Here is the vlog Dan put together for our time in Chefchaouen.
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