by ZAHRAH MAZHAR
Walking through Chefchaouen feels like strolling through a movie set. It’s too blue, too perfect, too scenic. When you purposefully get lost because the blue hues from every other lane beckon for a photo, you’re reminded that it’s a real city with inhabitants who may or may not be tired of visitors peeking into alleys and doorways, and taking a picture of every nook and corner.
You’re reminded again that this city was not built as a content source for social media accounts when a kid playing soccer comes into your frame just as you find that perfect symmetry for your shot. Loud conversations drifting into the lanes painted in multiple shades of blue are another call to reality.
I mention these obvious real-life instances because the city is so unrealistically beautiful that you could mistake it for a themed resort.
That’s not to say the beauty of the blues (royal, baby, midnight, sky, azure, ocean, navy, and more) is not intentional. Theories behind the blue spectrum range from keeping mosquitoes away, to Jewish settlers painting the city the colour of the sky and sea, but the most widely accepted and the one shared by the residents was that it was for aesthetic purposes and ultimately, tourism.
And while the Rif Mountains that serve as a picturesque background are God’s gift, the traditional doors and arches, and wrought-iron window grills dotted with colourful plants are all carefully curated design elements.
Dawn for more