INTO THE HUES OF BLUE

THERE'S MONEY IN THEM THAR HILLS 

 SUNDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2013

CHEFCHAOUEN or Chaouen as the locals call it, is about 100kms inland of Tangiers. After the hemmed in hustle of Tangiers, it's refreshingly laid back. The taxis don't even bother to meet the bus, you have to go wrangle one. The smell of hashish passes the nostrils more frequently than in Tangiers and lots of people have a toke where and when it suits them. Possession is not illegal although I think production and distribution may be a different matter. Nevertheless it's pretty much the prolific centre of Moroccan dope growing. The harvest was well in when we were there but it abounds in the local hills to meet global demand with hashish a specialty.

Our airbnb host met us at the taxi stop and walked us up to his house with magnificent views over the distinctive blue rinsed houses and buildings of Chefchaouen. Sometimes you really get lucky with airbnb, like the time we were in Germany back in July with Bea and Jan. In Chaouen, Ricardo and Nieves, our hosts were gems, very hospitable, giving of their time and informative on the local history, customs and people. Nieves served up delicious breakfasts and took us on a guided market shopping tour including a pit stop for snails. Nothing like a local to show you around.

We spent two nights enjoying the laid back change to Tangiers before heading down to Fez on the bus to meet up with an old work colleague who has lived in Fes for the last six years.

 

ONE FOR THE ROAD IN TANGIERS PETIT SOCCO, LIKE BURROUGHS, HEMMINGWAY, RIMBAUD, VERLAINE, KEROUAC AND THE ROLLING STONES BEFORE US TO NAME BUT A FEW.

SKIPPING TO CHAOUEN

SHORT ON HEADROOM, OUR BLUE DOOR OF THE BLUE TOWN IN THE HILLS

ON OUR WAY UP FOR THE VIEW

IT LOOKS LIKE MY MUM'S BEACH HAT FROM THE 60'S BUT IT'S TRADITIONAL GARB.

TIME FOR A SELFIE

AND THE LIGHT JUST GOT BETTER

SUNSET RED GOAT TRACK

POMEGRANATE AND YOGHURT PART OF NIEVES' YUMMY BREAKFAST

CHAOUEN BLUE

BUNNIES AT THE FOOD MARKET NOT THE PET STORE

WELL GUARDED ROOF

ANNE HAMMERS OUT A DEAL ON LATE SEASON FIGS

DIY PAINT TINTING SERVICE

ON THE WAY UP TO OUR PLACE

SNAILS WITH NIEVES, DELISH!

NICE STOCK TOO

ANNE AND NIEVES HEAD HOME LADEN WITH PRODUCE

THE VIEW FROM OUR TERRACE

ON THE TERRACE RESEARCHING OUR NEXT MOVE

OUR CHARMING HOST RICARDO BIDS US FAREWELL ON THE WAY TO FEZ

ANNE SECURES THE NEXT LEG

THE SHOOTER GETS SHOT