Chefchoen شفشاون one of the most Instagrammed places in the planet is a city of 43,000 in the Rif mountains northwest of Morocco. It’s about two hours south of Tangier and four hours north of Fes. Known as the “Blue Pearl”, the city is painted blue for reasons no one really remembers. There are many, many theories as to why. It definitely brings the tourists in now. I could not resist creating this Blue Blue world Tiktok video…. TikTok link: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS82W2R64/ Related Posts:
Unique Roadside Meal in Morroco
A new one for me. Deep in rural Morocco this is a butcher shop/ cafe. Behind the sheep and cow carcasses, you can see hanging up are a slicer, mincer and barista coffee machine. My driver pulled in here whilst en route from Chefchoen to Fez, raving about the food here. Fresh Moroccan tea appeared at our table first. Customers were served tea or coffee or meals or kilos of fresh meat to take home. Never had this experience before! We had a beef koftah served with tomato & onion and hunks of flat bread…
Easily Exploring Morocco by Train
Recently enjoyed ten lovely days traversing Morocco, a country known for its vibrant culture, ancient history, and picturesque landscapes. The country also has one of the most comprehensive and comfortable rail systems in Africa. This includes a high-speed train system also known as the LGV (Ligne à Grande Vitesse) or Al Boraq or TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) based on the French design. I used the rail system as the backbone of my adventures adding bus and car connections to Chefchoen and Essaouira. Booking Many people warned that it is almost impossible for a foreigner…
Al Stewart, Music and Morocco: Time Passages & Year of the Cat
Whilst travelling around Morocco, I kept hearing the music of 1970s British singer-songwriter Al Stewart, known for his thought-provoking lyrics that often weave together historical and literary references with personal experiences. Two of his most popular songs, “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages,” have become classics of the era and remain popular to this day. Both songs showcase Stewart’s ability to craft intricate, poetic lyrics that tell compelling stories and offer insights into the human experience. “Year of the Cat” is perhaps Stewart’s most famous song. Released in 1976, the song tells the story…
Ten Amazing Days in Morocco
A dream for 41 years became a reality with a recent trip across Morocco by bus, car, and train. This beautiful and diverse country, with its rich history and culture provided me with one of the most unique and exciting experiences, I have ever had as a traveller. Morroco was also the 80th country I have ever been to. Arrival I started by flying into Marrakech. I was very impressed with my arrival at the modern Marrakech airport which has flights to and from 78 airports. It is also possible to fly into Casablanca or…
Tasting Interesting Drinks across the World
This appeared in a cafe chain across Thailand. Gingerbread Earl Grey iced tea latte. Would you try this? I enjoyed it but it was still sweet even when I asked for “wan noi” (little sweetness). Thais consume one of the sweetest drinks on the planet Thai iced tea which has black tea, star anise, cardamom, and tamarind seed, red food colouring, sweetened condensed milk and oodles of sugar. It has a creamy layer on top and a punch of sweetness. I am a huge fan of Bubble Tea; it has become a weekly treat for…
Unique Flying – an Island Hop with Citilink Airlines
The direct distance from Dili, the Capital of Timor L’Este to Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia is just over 1100 km (660 mil) and takes around 90 minutes. Two carriers ply the route- each one flying a few times a week. I chose a new airline for me: Indonesia’s Citilink, hopping on board flight . The fare wasn’t cheap, however as demand seems to exceed the number of available seats. My biggest gripe with the island nation is the lack of easy transport opportunities. You only get to Dili by air from Darwin, Australia, and Denpasar. Because…
Why I love WISE money tool
Are you travelling internationally soon? Or later this year? I am a huge fan of WISE which used to be called Transfer Wise. They have become so indispensable for me that I have been astounded recently, to find people who don’t know about them. (If you do sign up, please use this link: https://wise.com/invite/u/martinc5) Six fabulous reasons I love Wise: 2 I have two fee-free VISA cards (one real and one virtual for online shopping). They have a distinctive Green colour which is always a talking point. The exchange rate is so good that I…
Out of Dili’s Terrible History emerges a Terrific Travel Experience
While it may not be as popular a tourist destination as some other cities in Southeast Asia, I found Dili had some interesting options and is one of the most authentic places I visited last year. Dili is the capital city of Timor Leste a small island nation located in Southeast Asia on the island of Timor (which is divided between Timor Leste and Indonesia). I have wanted to visit since Timor Leste’s Independence. Transport options to this island nation have been few and pricey. It does take a lot of work to organise travel…
Is there anything nicer than enjoying a fresh coconut?
One of the absolute delights of my time in the fascinating city of Dili in East Timor was discovering these beachside coconut stands. Approach a seller with his or her cart. Pick out your coconut or let the seller choose. The seller wields a formidable machete and whack whack, off comes the coconut’s top; in goes a straw and one refreshing drink is ready! I was kicking myself that I had left my metal straw at the hotel. I hate adding to disposal culture. When the fresh coconut milk is finished, one goes back to…
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