Chefchaouen (pronounced 'shefshewen') is known as the blue city, on account of the blue whitewash applied to many of the buildings. It certainly looks pretty nestled in between the hills.
I went for a walk up a path behind the B&B to get a good long distance view.
And tried an 'arty' shot through the wild flowers - this being a rest day 'n all. 😉
Once I had started I couldn't stop, flowering cactus anyone?
There were lots of nice flowers growing wild ...
even this one!
Further up there was a padlocked door to somewhere .... maybe a portal to another universe?
The path led up the mountain and beyond the 'Spanish Mosque' built in the early 1920's by the Spanish but never used.
So I went over for a closer look.
I then headed down to the town, which is quite popular with tourists - photo with an ostrich anyone?
The town has an old kasbah in the centre ....
.... and walls that rise steeply up the mountainside.
I wonder why they didnt build them at the top of the peak. Surely their defensive capability was somewhat limited by having higher ground immedietely behind them - any invaders would simply have to chuck rocks from the top down in the town. But maybe I am missing something.
One attractive and ungenious featurebof the town is the way they have made use of a mountain stream that runs down the steep valley. At various points they have built channels that divert some of the water for various purposes - in this case through an outdoor laundry where ladies wash clothes & rugs.
I entered the town through a small gate in the walls
.... and progressed steadily down the narrow labyrinth of streets. The bluewash is very distinctive & apparently was first intruduced by the jewish community bu adding indigo to the whitewash to contrast with the traftional green of Islam.
By the afternoon the streets are full of stalls selling rugs, leather goods, piaintings and all manor of items for locals & tourists alike.
In the morning they were just setting up domit was a bit quieter.
I like the way the blue contrasts wuth the natural ochre colour of the stone and pinks of fabrics etc. It is a much photographed city.
Photo opportunities exist at every corner.
The kasbah dates back to 1471 and is a nice quiet retreat from what become very busy streets from mid afternoon.
Here you can see one if the water channels taking some of the stream flow through the town.
.... and here over a little aqueduct to a other area.
A very pleasant town to amble around if you are ever in the area.
Last night in Africa tonight, an early start tomorrow to head for Tangier, get a ferry ticket and head back to Spain.
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