Tucked away at the base of the Rif Mountains in the north of Morocco is a picturesque little tourist town called Chefchaouen. After hearing my friend Marc rave about it after his Watson year and passing through it for an hour with my family, I knew that I must return during my month of exploring the cities outside of Casablanca.

For planning/timing purposes it was my first stop and I spent about 2 days in this enchanting town admiring the beautiful views of the mountains, wandering through the narrow winding streets of the medina painted a bright refreshing blue by Jewish refugees from Spain in the 1930s and enjoying the generally relaxed and tranquil ambience and people of this town. I drank tea in the busy Place Uta-el-Hammam, visited the Kasbah (fort protecting the medina) and its museum, and walked to a small waterfall and pool whose water travels down the mountain and allows for the locals to wash their clothes and keep refreshed during the hot summer. Aside for these lovely aspects of Chefchaouen, this town also attracts large numbers of backpackers because of its proximity to the Rif Mountains and its most widespread cash crop…

For centuries the Rif Mountains have been the home of numerous plantations notorious for the growth and distribution of marijuana, or “kif” in Arabic. The historical importance of this plant for this region cannot be overstated; it was used for medical purposes, for social gatherings and for economic sustainability. As an important part of its culture, the use and distribution of kif in this area is still widespread and relatively open, despite the 2004 law that forbade its growth. In practice, however, the law is enforced only on occasion.

I would like to clarify that my fondness for Chefchaouen is not derived from this small aspect of its culture, but rather from its character, tranquility, and beauty (which these photos convey gorgeously).  Any comments insinuating the former WILL NOT BE APPROVED.