Travels Through Morocco - Chefchaouen the Blue Pearl, Chapter Three

in #travel6 years ago (edited)

"You could explore this city for hours and the sense of wonder would never go away."

「  The City of Chefchaouen, Morocco  」

C H A P T E R   T H R E E

Dar Mounia, Chefchaouen
28th August, 2018

I spent the next few days in Chefchaouen exploring the city's nooks and crannies in my solitude. I can imagine a lot of couples coming here to spend their honeymoons, or to visit as a romantic getaway. Certainly there were a lot of couples here, but a lot of lone travellers too who, like me, ended up wandering the streets, taking photos of almost every street corner in this gorgeous city.

I decided to extend my stay here and unfortunately my hostel, Dar Antonio was fully booked. I had to look for another one but luckily I had my phone and my Booking app which I've used to book probably over one hundred hostels across Asia and Europe and has been an absolute saviour when booking last minute. And this time was no exception. As I wanted my own room this time, I opted for a house called Dar Mounia which was a measly $35 per night for a double, including breakfast - what a steal! Without hesitation, I booked it and made my way there.


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Dar Mounia, Chefchaouen

I moved from my hostel Dar Antonio and found myself in one of the most beautiful blue buildings that I've seen - Dar Mounia, pictured above. The Dar was located down a little side street near the main square, with a balcony atop. It was a three story building with a beautiful coat of blue and white paint, and the it was as beautiful inside as it was outside, with home-sewn fabrics and green vines lining the wall and inner courtyard.


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Inside of Dar Mounia

After settling into my new abode, I decided to keep exploring, not spending very much money as all I was doing was essentially just walking and eating. I stumbled across what looked like one of the Medina squares and sat outside one of the cafe's. The waiter arrived and I ordered (you guessed it) a steamy pot of peppermint tea for a meagre 50 cents. I sat there sipping and contemplating, surrounded by the gorgeous blue mosaic tiles that lined the houses and water feature in the middle of the square. It was quiet and I just watched the locals shuffle about their business. Honestly I could live here forever. It was a relaxed pace of life - no one rushing around, no one yelling or accosting you to buy their goods. Instead, everyone was asking how you were and smiling at you as you pass them. It was unlike any other place I visited in Morocco and it was a refreshing change from Fes or Marrakesh.

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Chefchaouen Medina square

My morning breakfast

Eventually, I went for another hike not too far from the mountains and along the city walls and made my way back to my new hotel, drifting straight away into sleep as it had been a long and hot day of walking and exploring. After a well-earned sleep, I could smell the unmistakable aroma of freshly-made bread which carried out of bed and upstairs to the balcony. Before my eyes was laid out a gorgeous breakfast of different types of bread, yogurt, honey, peanut sauce and marmalade. And who could forget the gorgeous mint tea! All this served on a panoramic balcony at the top of the hotel. This was utter paradise. Join me in my next post as I make the most of my last few days here and explore the Kasbah right in the middle of the city!



The view from the Dar Mounia rooftop terrace of the Riff Mountains


So if you do sign up to Booking.com, use the link to sign up and you'll get FREE $20 on the credit card you use to book, and access to a great site. Everybody wins!

Also I would really appreciate some feedback on my new blog style - it may be a bit messy so let me know and I'll be happy to return to my old style. Happy to listen to my awesome followers and steemians! <3

Chefchaouen the Blue Pearl, Morocco


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Details
🌏 | Chefchaouen, Morocco
📷 | Samsung S8
🎨 | Lightroom Mobile edits used


Over the next few weeks I'll be trekking through Morocco and I'll be share with you my thoughts, feelings, tips and warnings about visiting each place along the way. Being a photographer, I will be doing this while sharing my photos with all of you too! I sincerely hope you all enjoy.

Please do follow if you want to keep up with my travel through this wonderful country <3

Any upvotes or reblogs are hugely appreciated! Much love, everybody.

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This is a amazing photography, seeing a pictures it creates curiosity about the city.
The city with mountain surrounding looks amazing, the colors of the wall looks great.
Really nice captured.

Thanks so much, mean a lot bud!

Iv'e heard that morroco has the best hash in the world. I would like to come and smoke it :)

Hash as in hash browns? Kappa

hahaahah good reason to spend some bucks

Spend some steem maybe? haha

No comment haha, except for the fact that the Riff hash is particularly fantastic, not that I would know...

It does... Not that I've tried it wink wink

hahahaha... thats my first reason to go!!

Me too definitely need to go there

The blueness is beautiful, reminds of that Greek island

Yes, Santorini! Everyone's told me that. Need to head over there to compare... for science.

I can't believe I haven't followed you yet

Me neither 😅😜

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@seetheworld.sgp you inspired me to write a poem, part of a series I am doing called simply Travel Poetry Series. Here is a sample of the poem. The rest is available right here: https://steemit.com/travel/@xylenroberts/travel-poetry-series-number-3-chefchauen-morroco-for-seetheworld-flying-bison-spraypainted-turquoise Enjoy!

you can't tell the sky from the streets here
and perhaps thats the way it should be
I wish that I could walk right into a cloud kingdom
while vibin' on some cloud rap, maybe some Clouddead
perhaps if I lie real still in this hotel room bed
I can astral project and become one with some bluebirds
or ride upon the backs of some flying bison spray painted turquoise

you can't tell the streams from the streets here
perhaps I'l take a drink from the water
I wonder if this town is proper haunted
the hydro stimulates a ghost dance at dawn
my ears detect the faint whispers of an old song
lost in the wind, fever flesh for the seagulls
zigzag triangles sloop down and looping when they fly
a blue monster with teeth that clench down
to gnash the mountains

to see more, click the poem. Thank you :)

Wow incredible poem 😍 I'm a fan. I feel honoured to have created the inspiration for your poem 😅 definitely an alternative style of poem but hey why conform to the ordinary? Well done buddy.

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I like it :)

I'm glad you do!

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i don't know if i could live here forever but it is an interesting place to read about :) and to look at the pictures of course!

Agreed, though I think I could live here for a small while :) thanks for stopping by!

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:o not forever anymore? ;D

Maybe slightly less than forever, if there's a term for that 😂 too much other cool places to see!

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These pics are beautiful

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Thanks bro!

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I'm originally from Morocco and Chefchaouen is one of the few places I haven't been yet.
I hope you are enjoying the country. It's a gem. People don't know until they visit.
Resteemed.

Rich history and culture, great ppl, beautiful nature

I really am loving your country. Chefchaouen is one of my faves so far, visit if you get the chance. Shukran friend!

I will. It must be magical. My personal favourite at the moment is Essaouira, one of the "Game of Thrones" filming locations and Ouzoud.

Essaouira:
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Ouzoud:
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Hopefully you are gonna get the chance to visit them.

Great photos man, thanks for digging these out!! Love the monkey one... Sadly I never got the chance to go to Ouzoud but looking at those photos I think I'm going to have the make the time... spectacular!

Thanks.
Ouzoud is great, especially for you that you are into trekking. Now it's not the best time to visit anyway, loads of people in there. I went in May and it was fabulous, got an affordable small apartment. The locals were nice and it was so quiet and peaceful. Me and my brother done some trekking and met loads of monkeys and a wild boar. The scenery was mesmerising.
It's something that I'm planning to do again. Really enjoyed it.

Lots of people even in this heat?? Crazy. But I guess its summer in most places. I'll have to try it in springtime then, but I can imagine it can get quite cold in the mountainous regions. Excellent, trekking is right up my street - might have to retrace the steps that you and your brother did!

Yeah! My brother been the past year in august with his family and it was crowded. Even monkeys keep away. lol He still had a good time but nothing like in in May. Waterfalls in May were crystal clear but in August brown. lol
I don't really go to Morocco in the summer anymore. It's busy, prices skyrocket and it's too hot. I go either in December or late spring.

Yeah, we ventured around and then walked up to the sources of spring water, where water was extremely cold.
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I wrote my comment before I read yours, but in my comment I was indeed saying that the beauty of Morocco is greatly underestimated... I’d love to go there one day, and I will! ;-)

I really hope you get to visit. People don't really know much about the history of the place. Morocco I've been ruled by the Romans, French, Spanish, Jews, Arabs and Berbers. Making it culturally very diverse. This diversity is reflected through many aspects of Moroccan life; languages, clothing, cuisine and more.

I hope you do and all the best for when that happens!