It was amazing to see how Moroccans built their vibrant communities around the environments with unique tones: from desert heat and sandy red walls of Medina of Marrakech to Mediterranean breeze and blue palette in Medina of Chefchaouen, Before leaving the country, my last day trip was from Tangier to Chefchaouen to check out the fuss about the Blue Pearl in the Rif Mountains.
The old walled city got me soaked in shades of blue. Diverse approaches to the hue created visual depth and tonality. So playful!
While the reddish tone of Marrakech was evident from the desert, why blue in this particular town? Some theories floating around the Internet, e.g. Jewish immigration or protection from mosquitoes. However, according to the local guide, a Moroccan TV series in the 2010s, Bnat Lalla Mennana, popularised the location nationally and influenced more residents to paint their houses blue. He showed us a photo of the square fountain still in white. Regardless of whether those theories were verified, it worked. The town became a sensation. Visitors poured in for IG-worthy photos, myself included.
Before exiting the old town’s gate, the guide told us it’d feel like returning to the real world. I found that was true. Houses outside the wall were also blue, but it was like a different time inside. It also reminded me of another mountainous community, Comuna 13 in Medellín, Colombia.
Compared to the journey to Merzouga, the drive to Chefchaouen was much shorter, 110 km from Tangier with no scorching sun. Nonetheless, the Rif Mountains landscapes were spectacular.