We started the day with a very nice hotel breakfast with omelette. Then down to meet our guide at the entrance for a tour of the Chefchaoeun medina. The dark orange-brown walls of the medina run prominently up the steep mountain behind the town and appear in good condition. At the top of the town is a spring which has never stopped running. Nice clean water. The local residents wash their carpets there as well as use for drinking water. The streets of the medina are narrow, never intended for modern vehicles. Although as we made our way through the medina, two or three motor cycles roared their way past us. The tour guide did not seem impressed. Each side of the streets are small shops and stalls, homes, some hotels and hostels. The streets twist and turn and progressively drop downwards. Buildings throughout the old town medina are painted shades of blue, symbolising the Jewish faith. This came about when the Jews fled Spain for Morocco in the 15th century. They chose blue paint for their homes as a reminder of God's power above. It's an unusual and fascinating effect.
The richness of colour, the rounding of the stone walls and stairs produce wonderful cool colours. The medina itself is cool, even on a hot day, as its design captures the breeze and channels it along the narrow alley ways, with sunlight trapped on the outside. Nevertheless the lanes are well lit as well as ventilated. Our walking tour was interrupted constantly as we all lingered and deviated off course in our attempts to capture photo after photo of the beautiful little blue alley ways. Prominent also throughout the blue stepped alley ways are the homeless alley cats and their litters of kittens. Dogs as well, no shortage of animals and not just tolerated by the locals but fed and looked after. A wide variety of merchandise lines the alley ways. We had been forewarned by our tour guide (Said) to avoid buying clothes or carpet here as the place is rife with cannabis and there is a strong likelihood it may have infiltrated the fabric. Sniffer dogs at airports may detect the scent! Yikes! We will play it safe and refrain from such purchases. There is also assorted crockery, art and silver stores as well as gold jewellery in the Jewish quarter. And artisans at work.
We ended the tour of course with mint tea! And goats cheese, bread and olives in the town square. This was at a little restaurant in the main square of the medina, chosen by Said and part of our cultural experience (in lieu of missing out on a goat cheese experience elsewhere.) Nice. Jenny then bought post cards and stamps for the grandchildren. Then insisted on having some photos taken with macaws and a cockatoo. Still needing to burn off excess energy, Jenny and Peter wandered up the hill to the 'Spanish Mosque' for an opportunity to take in the vista of the town from a more elevated angle. Photos are included.
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