When COVID-19 hit Morocco, the mountainous city of Chefchaouen was one of many few that registered no instances. The picturesque city, its facades painted in distinctive hues of blue, shut its small inhabitants off from the world, and stored the virus out for months.
Now, because the nation cautiously reopens and tries to resuscitate its struggling economic system, Chefchaouen stands subdued, abandoned by the vacationers who’ve lengthy been its lifeblood.
Throughout the Christmas and New 12 months holidays, the vast majority of town’s guests had been native vacationers as an alternative of the European and Chinese language vacationers who often throng the slender streets. Store house owners who sometimes promote rugs, woollen coats and souvenirs struggled to seek out shoppers.
As an evening curfew got here into drive throughout the nation to stop giant gatherings in the course of the vacation season, eating places within the often bustling predominant plaza by the historic Kasbah needed to flip away clientele to shut up early.
Within the Center Ages, the city was populated by Moriscos, or Moors, fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. Immediately, it is called the Blue Pearl of Morocco, and is likely one of the high locations within the kingdom, typically experiencing overcrowding and inns booked to capability.
Its laid-back vibe, good blue alleyways, sweeping mountainous panorama and mountain climbing trails have lengthy attracted vacationers, particularly from Spain and China, whose residents take pleasure in visa-free journey to Morocco.