Tetouan & Chefchaouen

With both green rolling hills and dramatic mountain cliffs, the Rif Mountains of Northern Morocco provided the backdrop to every city we visited. The barrier of mountains historically ensured the inhabitants to be quite isolated and fierce defenders of their land; most recently against the Spanish.

All of Morocco and especially the north received many Jewish refugees from Granada, Spain, in the 15th century escaping from the "Christian" Reconquest of Spain. As a result, many Moroccan towns have a Jewish quarter complete with a Synagogue. Most Jews are gone now due to persecution and the desire to return to Israel after it became a nation. My sister-in-law, Laurie, comes from Jewish Granada as well. Their family escaped to Turkey and many years later ended up in France.

The Spanish and Jewish influence is easy to see all over northern Morocco. Most people in the north also speak Spanish (as well as Arabic & French) and have many Spanish customs to this day.

Picture 1: A little jail keeper watching over her miserable prisoners in an old Spanish prison

Picture 2: Chefchaouen - known for its quaint atmosphere with blue and white streets and homes

Picture 3: Chefchaouen - in the shadow of the Rif

Picture 4: Tetouan - We felt like we were in Spain here!