Chefchaouen. The blue city of Morocco 9781715567873

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About me: "I am Chilean street Photographer who made Morocco his homeland since 2013." Contact [email protected] +212 (0) 624160541 CHEFCHAOUEN, the blue city of Morocco. First editions 2020. Copyright © 2020 - Fernando Vacaflores : All Rights Reserved

ISBN 978-1-71-556787-3

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THE BLUE CITY Of MOROCCO

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"The town of Chefchaouen nestles in the hollow of the

The blue is said to symbolize the sky and heaven, it

two mountains - each-Chaoua (The Horns) - from

is also a reminder to lead a spiritual life. However,

which it takes its name. Steep narrow streets with

according to some locals, the walls were mandated to

white and indigo limewashed buildings, small squares,

be painted blue simply to attract tourists at some point

ornate

in the 1970 s.

fountains

and

houses

with

elaborately

decorated doorways and red tile roofs make this a

As in all of of Morocco, no matter what time of the

delightful town."

year you visit Chefchaouen, the light, contrast, shadows, the mysterious and colourful characters that

Since I arrived in Morocco in 2013 many people have

enter and leave your frame will always ensure to be a

told me about Chefchaouen. My Moroccan friends kept

delight for your camera. So you just need to wait for

telling me that I would be delighted if one day I happen

them. Although patience can be difficult for most of us

to visit the "Blue city". It was only in 2019 that I had the

if you choose an interesting background and wait for

opportunity to go there for the first time and I can

the right person to enter the scene it will pay off.

confirm my nationals friends were not exaggerating.

Above all,

The medina of Chefchaouen is situated on the top of a

seating and drinking a mint tea with them. If you are

hill which makes its streets steep and with many steps.

not a people person, you still need to be aware that

It reminds me of my home town in Chile, Valparaiso.

locals focus a lot on relationships.

make sure to enjoy time with people

The old medina is a delight of Moroccan and Andalusian influence. There are several theories as to why the walls were painted blue. One popular theory is that the blue keeps mosquitoes away, another is that Jews introduced that colour when they took refuge from Hitler in the 1930 s.

"It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter"

Alfred fisenstaedt

THI BlUI STRHTS I will start with the most iconic of this city, the blue streets and doors of Chefchaouen.

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lDCAlS IN THE BlUE STREETS The souls of the blue city: its people.

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