Chefchaouen, Morocco's Blue Pearl

Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl as they say, sits nestled in the Rif Mountains of North Morocco, far removed from Morocco’s big cities. The vibe and unique beauty of this exotic location gives visitors the feeling of being quite literally disconnected from the rest of the world.

As you walk through the streets leading from the bus stop, Chefchaouen looks much like any other small village in Morocco. Meaning, at first glance, there’s nothing significantly more charming or unique than elsewhere. It isn’t until you pass through the plaza that separates the kasbah from a row of restaurants—ones you absolutely must experience, and begin your ascent into the old medina that you realize you are somewhere entirely unlike any other place.

From that moment on, I don’t remember taking a step that wasn’t either uphill or downhill. The stone-paved walkways are painted blue and worn smooth from the traffic of thousands upon thousands of visitors who come seeking an experience something wholly on its own. Every house, hanout (small shop), art gallery, and nearly every exterior wall is brought to life with powder blues and deep indigos, coating the city in a calm you didn’t even know you were missing. Everywhere I looked, that calm was there, quietly embracing me.

And there I was… isolated, insulated from the outside world. With my mind finally evacuated of the noise so forcefully imposed upon it, I began to settle into the present and notice the details of this remarkably charming village.

Some of these things weren’t details exactly, but rather smaller supporting characters that enhanced the beauty along the narrow passages of the medina. Jlabas, rugs, traditional straw hats trimmed with colorful pom-poms; metalwork in the form of serving platters, lanterns, and teapots—everything surrounded me, all at once. And yet, within this colorful chaos, the calm remained, while excitement gently took its place alongside it. This juxtaposition became the perfect concert of emotions that played throughout my entire week there. The air itself seemed full of magic.

In this newly relaxed state of mind, my energy renewed, I ventured deeper into this secluded world in search of its true essence. My mind was open. My curiosity surfaced, tugging at me like a small child vying for its mother’s attention.

Because, like anywhere on earth, the true essence of a place comes from its people and how they shape it. The painters, seamsters and seamstresses, bakers and baxters, rug makers; food and vegetable vendors; street sellers offering handmade knickknacks that somehow feel genuinely meaningful. All were artists in their own right and were true artisans.

As if their mastery of the crafts they practice wasn't enough, the level of hospitality here was the most unfamiliar yet beautiful experience. The offering of tea without pressure to buy a thing, the eagerness to simply have a laugh with a complete stranger—these are some of the things to expect. I was once even invited into the home of the owner of the small riad where I stayed to have couscous with his family! Regretfully at the time, I didn't realize the depth of that gesture nor knew really how to act. Not that I was unruly, just nervous and feeling a bit shy. Now, all these acts of hospitality and generosity have allowed me to have some of the most beautiful moments and interactions throughout Morocco with people who are simply good and kind-hearted.

Now, during my time there, we—the entire human race—were just beginning to hear about something that would soon change the world forever: COVID. Unaware of what lay ahead, and fueled by curiosity, I grabbed my trusty GoPro and spoke with people in this secluded corner of the world to see what—or even if—they knew about it.

If you’d like to satisfy your own curiosity, experience the beauty of Chefchaouen, and hear what the locals had to say, just click on the video below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzCiUDH6AZ8&t=558s

As I recount my experiences, the next story talks about how things unfolded for me in Morocco as the world began to shut down indefinitely.