Day 4: Casablanca to Chefchaouen and Tetouan

Breakfast today included hot roti style breads topped with Vegemite and avocado courtesy of one couple who had bought avocados in the market and vegemite from home. The only real complaint we had at this breakfast was that mint tea was available for purchase, not provided (I know, that sounds so spoilt but by this point we were in love with the fresh mint and green tea beverage).

7.45am we depart for Rabat. Considered the Moroccan Budapest because it is two cities bordering a river. 

Sight seeing through Rabat with a local guide, first up we visited the 45 acre palace. Rabat became the capital under the French in 1912. Rabat is the green city. And I can see why, the city is greener than Brisbane. 

The latest MI5 movie has a scene with Tom cruise driving away from a door which we walked through and out to the coast with a view across the ocean. The Roman’s used to bury their dead by the ocean and the Moroccans continue the tradition which is why so many prime realestate beachside blocks are filled with cemeteries. On the way to Chefchauen, the bus blew an airbag over one of the tyres. Luckily it was close to lunch time and was easy to repair.

The lunch stop was at 3.30 at a roadside restaurant. We had a few salad options which Abdul said were fine to eat, along with the usual tagine options, skewers or sandwiches. By 4.30 we were on our way. We drove into Chefchauen in the late afternoon after watching a truck nearly topple stacked high and wide with hay bales. The city is beautiful, once you get to the centre you really see the blue colour coming through. Don’t worry, I know how sceptical everyone is when viewing from the first panoramic viewpoint on the way into town. It gets more blue! We wandered with Abdul and took some photos before finding amazing crepes for dinner (Nutella, date, sultana, walnut) and a relaxing mint tea in an upstairs restaurant. Be warned, these crepes take 5+ minutes a piece, so if you want them, be sure to get in the queue early and leave plenty of time.

We then caught the bus to 1.5 hours to Tetouan for our hotel which is lovely! Great comfortable beds with a good shower and the kitchen looks like it should make for a good breakfast! 

Accommodation: Hotel La Paloma