The color blue is found throughout Morocco, on buildings, boats, ceramics, tiles, and Berber robes. In the town of Chefchaouen, there are several theories as to why all the walls were painted blue. Our guide told us that the blue keeps mosquitoes away. Another theory is that Jews introduced the blue when they took refuge from Hitler in the 1930s. The blue is said to symbolize the sky and heaven, and serve as a reminder to lead a spiritual life. However, according to some locals, the walls were mandated to be painted blue simply to attract tourists at some point in the 1970s (Wikipedia: Chefchaouen).

calligraphy in Casablanca
All this time she hadn’t known that “blue” was actually seven distinct shades, each with its own names – azure, Prussian, cobalt, cerulean, sapphire, indigo, lapis. She pressed the waxy pencils on the paper, amazed by the emerging hues: the ornaments curving on the Armenian vase were lapis; the purplish contours of the Jerusalem mountains were shrouded by indigo evening clouds.
― Jerusalem Maiden

eggs in Tangier

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen


Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen


Essaouira

Essaouira

Essaouira

Essaouira

Essaouira

Essaouira

Essaouira

Marrakech
*April, 2019*
*********************
“PHOTOGRAPHY” INVITATION: I invite you to create a photography intention and then create a blog post for a place you have visited. Alternately, you can post a thematic post about a place, photos of whatever you discovered that set your heart afire. You can also do a thematic post of something you have found throughout all your travels: churches, doors, people reading, people hiking, mountains, patterns, all black & white, whatever!
You probably have your own ideas about this, but in case you’d like some ideas, you can visit my page: photography inspiration.
I challenge you to post no more than 20-30 photos and to write less than 1,500 words about any travel-related photography intention you set for yourself. Include the link in the comments below by Wednesday, October 2 at 1:00 p.m. EST. When I write my post in response to this challenge on Thursday, October 3, I’ll include your links in that post.
This will be an ongoing invitation, every first, second, and third (& 5th, if there is one) Thursday of each month (I’ve now added the second Thursday). Feel free to jump in at any time. 🙂
I hope you’ll join in our community. I look forward to reading your posts!
the ~ wander.essence ~ community
I invite you all to settle in and read a few posts from our wandering community. I promise, you’ll be inspired!
- Sheetal, of sheetalbravon, captured some regal felines in Cats of The Most Beautiful Bookstore in Venice.
Thanks to all of you who shared posts on the “photography” invitation. 🙂
I am traveling from September 1 to October 4. If I cannot respond to or add your links due to wi-fi problems or time constraints, please feel free to add your links in both this post and my next scheduled post. If I can’t read them when you post them, I will get to them as soon as I can. Thanks for your understanding! 🙂
What fabulous places for a wander!
LikeLike
It was a fabulous place, Sue! Thanks. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
All that blue!
LikeLike
I had heard a great deal about this Moroccan blue city and now looking at the photographs , I’m more intrigued than ever. It happens to be my favourite post . By the way India has a Pink City called Jaipur and a blue city Jodhpur although I’m not sure how blue Jodhpur is in comparison. For now, I’m going blue with envy looking at your clicks.
LikeLike
I’m familiar with both Jaipur and Jodhpur from my travels in India, Sheetal, but sadly I just got to observe Jodhpur from a hilltop. So I don’t know if it’s as blue as Chefchaouen! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also Cathy, thrilled to see my post mentioned. Thank you!
LikeLike
I’m glad. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Wander. Essence : Photography Inspiration […]
LikeLike
Oh wow, I love blue, and this is just amazing! I like the variety of explanations too.
LikeLike
Thanks, Anabel. It was a photographer’s dream. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love blue and these photos are beautiful. Morocco is high on our destination list.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Carol! I hope you enjoy it when you go. 😊
LikeLike
Aha! So that’s where you are? Never quite sure what’s current with you.
This is a totally splendid post. Are these places just blue highlights, or is the whole of Morocco blue??? What an eye-feast.
LikeLike
Hi Meg! No, I was in Morocco in April. I’m now on the biggest road trip I’ve ever done, through the Great Plains of the U.S. – Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota, with a few dips into Wyoming and Colorado! I’ve been gone since September 1 and won’t be home till October 4!
All of Morocco is not blue, but blue is certainly a prevalent color. There is the one blue town, Chefchaouen. It’s magnificent!
LikeLike
What a road trip! I’m about to set off on a much shorter one, mainly because I can’t bear the thought of getting in someone’s vehicle again. This time to be with a friend from school days who’s been in hospital.
LikeLike
I have just now returned home from my road trip, after driving over 7,500 miles, mostly on my own! I think I might never get in a vehicle again myself! I hope you enjoyed your road trip to visit your friend; I hope his or her hospital stay had good results. 🙂
LikeLike
She still has a month of recovery, mainly taking it easy. Not an easy prescription!!
LikeLike
Sometimes it’s nice to be told to take it easy and to have an excuse to do nothing! I hope she recovers quickly.
LikeLike
Your photos are set beautifully against Talia Carner’s text. Wishing you a wonderful journey through the Great Plains.
LikeLike
It’s impossible to dislike the colour combination of blue and white, Cathy, but some of your photos are simply stunning. I shall stare out across the water, wishing I was there. 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Jo. It was fun taking pictures in Morocco. It really is such a colorful country. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whatever the true story behind the blue, it makes for a beautiful city. I do hope it wasn’t just created in the 70’s for tourism, though!
LikeLike
Who knows if it was painted that way for tourism, Marsi. No matter, it was still a charming and pretty town which might have no draw otherwise. Even on my big road trip through the Dakotas and Nebraska, I found towns that try to capitalize on whatever claim to fame they can find. If it helps economies, I can’t protest too much. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blue is my favourite colour and you have some stunning shots here Cathy, I especially like the simple but elegant calligraphy and the fishing nets. I’m afraid that I don’t much care for Chefchaouen – one can have too much of one colour and if that was done to attract tourists then it’s even more sad. Reminds me of the village in Spain which was painted blue to film the Smurfs (Juzcar).
LikeLike
I loved Chefchaouen, Jude. I found it quite charming, whether it was painted blue for tourists or not. After finishing my road trip through the Dakotas and Nebraska, I found many towns trying to capitalize on some aspect of fame to draw people. I figure if it helps economies, I feel good about contributing. The only way I don’t like it is if the crowds are too huge. In that case, I prefer to stay away. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great captures – I think I’d like to see more of Morocco in the future 🤗
LikeLike
Thank you, Cherryl. Have you been before?
LikeLike
Yes, I went earlier this year – it was a fantastic experience, culturally rich and colourful – but I wish I’d got to see the blue city and maybe Rabat too – next time perhaps 🔆
LikeLike
I missed Rabat as well when I was there. I went on a 15-person tour for two weeks with G Adventures. I usually don’t enjoy tours, but this one gave me a great overview of the country. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person