The Blue Pearl of Morocco | WorldStrides

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The trip starts with a ferry ride from Tarifa to Tangier. The winds blasting from the sea are not enough to keep me off the balcony. The bright blue water and the fading coastline create something truly unique.

A red and gray pilot boat cruises through blue water past a stone breakwater with a monument under a clear blue sky near a coastal town.

A close-up of a child's hands resting on the back of a car seat, with a blurry view of the road and trees outside the window.

The hour-long trip is followed by a two-hour shared taxi ride from Tangier to Chefchaouen. I'm eager to walk the bright blue streets of what is known as the Blue Pearl of Morocco. The ride is filled with beautiful views and broken conversation.

I check into my hotel in the midst of the bustling markets. Even the hotel doesn't lack this beautiful display of blues and whites. The colors paint the city.

A low-angle view of traditional blue and white buildings with arched doorways and intricate black metal railings under a clear blue sky, characteristic of Chefchaouen, Morocco.

Two small tabby kittens huddle together on a blue surface.

As I end my night, I find one of many kittens snuggled up on the hotel steps. These kittens would become a common theme, bringing vibrant life to every corner of the town.

Two small tabby kittens huddle together on a blue surface.

Interior view of a small, brightly lit convenience store with blue shelves stocked with various food items, beverages, and household products, and a glass display counter in the foreground.

I start the morning with a plan to roam and end the night with a hike. As I stop to grab something to drink, I can't help but notice that even the shops wear the uniform of blue and white. I can't help but wonder whether the people love it as much as I do, or if they have simply become used to it.

I begin my journey through the streets and start to notice hints of street art mixed with natural beauty. Somehow, they have found ways to make the shades pop while remaining within a singular color palette. This, along with the greenery, is true beauty in my eyes.

Blue stairs leading to an ornate door on a plant-covered building in Chefchaouen.

A hillside cemetery with numerous white and gray tombstones scattered among green and brown overgrown grass under a clear blue sky.

The hike begins with the discovery of an abandoned graveyard. Even these tombs carry the familiar blue-and-white shades, something the people of Chefchaouen seem to carry with them eternally.

An aerial view of rolling hills with scattered olive trees, terraced fields, and small rural houses under a hazy sky.

The hike is filled with beautiful countryside views on one side and the city on the other. The description of a blue pearl is truly accurate, as the city stands alone in the middle of the valleys. It truly pops like a gem with light shining upon it.

An aerial view of rolling hills with scattered olive trees, terraced fields, and small rural houses under a hazy sky.

A panoramic view of the blue city of Chefchaouen, Morocco, nestled in a valley with mountains in the background under a vibrant sunset sky.

The day ends with a sunset overlooking the city. The sounds of conversation and prayers from the speakers echo throughout the valley. People are joyful. Life is good in this moment.

A young person wearing sunglasses and a white beanie, with snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

Jake R.

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