The very last day of our Moroccan adventure was in the bluest town in the world, Chefchaouen. Every shade of blue and all of the winding, hilly streets made this another of our favorite stops. (The warm temps didn't hurt either). We stayed in a super charming hotel overlooking the entire town and surrounding Rif Mountains. The backdrop for this place was nothing short of seriously incredible- it was so dreamy. And, it reminded us of our stay on Hydra in Greece- same layout of a city built into a mountain with great views, painted walls, winding alleys and shops, and the friendliest people.
The clerk at our hotel told us that the original Jewish settlers painted their homes blue to set them apart, and eventually it caught on. Plus, it had a practical side-effect. Because it appears to mosquitoes as if it is running water, they stay away...major bonus. The blue homes and orange tile roofs was too much perfection in one place!
Lauren lost a tooth in the car before we got to Chefchaouen (it was wiggly before we left and her "goal" was to lose it in Morocco). If you look closely, you can see the gap, which I think is just about the cutest thing ever. Something about a gap-toothed child makes me smile.
Our cute hotel, like a beach-goer's dream. Below is the view from our hotel, but these pictures just don't really even do it justice. I could spend a lot of time in this city.
After we checked in to the hotel, we all got ready to get out and explore. On the way down the stairs, Brian pulled the muscles in his calf and couldn't even lift his leg. Poor guy had to stay back and nurse it while we went out. Nothing is ever as fun without Dad around (and we definitely don't get pictures as nice!) so we didn't stay away for long. We grabbed lunch at a restaurant overlooking the city, did a quick tour of the biggest kasbah (large family home- this one had been made into a museum), and then headed home. We narrowly avoided a massive and sudden downpour, so we weren't too unhappy about leaving when we did. We had a delicious dinner at the hotel that night and slept well after a beautiful last day in amazing Morocco. Early the next morning, we headed to Tangier for our flight out.
Its hard to summarize a trip like this one in mere words and pictures. You really have to be there (smell, taste, sound and hear) to understand how this place can open your eyes and make you learn by leaps and bounds. It was nothing short of magic...it certainly wasn't perfect, but thats what made it memorable. And, we could not have had better traveling partners in my parents. They're so easy to be around, energetic, adventurous, and so loving with our kids. Morocco was certainly a trip none of us will ever forget.