CHEFCHAOUEN: DISCOVER THE BLUE CITY

The little blue city of Chaouen as the locals called it. We almost gave up on making it there. In so many ways, it was a long journey to get to. Further complicated by our last minute decision to cab it from Rabat. Make sure your negotiating/bargaining skills are finely sharpened before making it to Morocco. After several false starts and a few dirhams lighter than when we started, we found ourselves on the long windy, mostly scenic road from Rabat to Chefchaouen. The ride was long, street signs were minimal and our driver got a little lost which added about an hour and change to the drive. But it was all worth it (and more) when we pulled up to the main square.

Our hotel (Lina Ryad) was located in the center of the old city and as such not driveable to get to, but it was only quick 5 minute trek, so no biggie. I realized almost immediately that I hadn’t packed the most appropriate shoes. Not only were many of the streets slightly steep and hilly, they were also paved with super shiny and slippery cobblestones. So Tip #1, pack some shoes with some grip, not just cute no grip flat sandals.
For the most part of Day 1, you would have found me inching my way across most streets with everyone one else zipping and whizzing past me. They were probably all thinking – what’s this crazy chick doing?

The Ryad was super clean, rooms were minimally and well designed and above all, service was excellent. Fave part, was our room was at the very top and led out to a massive balcony with an impressive view of the city.

Besides my probably unfounded and irrational fear of falling, I proceeded to have loads of fun getting a little lost and marveling at all the textiles and jewelry and soaps, oils etc. The merchants were so much nicer, not at all pushy or aggressive as in Marrakech, it made it so much more fun to look, touch and feel everything without any added pressure.