Chefchaouen - the city in blue

Chefchaouen is a beautiful city built in the Rif mountains with a rich history influenced by Spanish settlers, moorish exiles and Ghomaras farmers. The old Medina buildings with its Andalucian influence have red tiled roofs and are all painted in bright shades of blue.

I stayed here for several days to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and learn about the surrounding mountain culture. I soon learned that the main source of income for the families in the mountains above was the cultivation and sale of hashish or what the locals call "kif". This highly potent product was sold easily and unregulated throughout the city making it a popular retreat for young spanish travelers. For young Moroccan entrepreneurs, Chefchaouen is a popular pit-stop before heading into the mountains to negotiate large quantities of kif to resell in the main cities.

I was inspired by the beautiful blue streets and steep rocky mountains. I spent many hours wandering the steep streets trying to capture the essence of this peaceful city.

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