The "Blue City" was a new attraction for me on this trip. It is located in the North of Morocco near the Rif mountains. The city was founded in the 1400's and was briefly held by the Spanish in the early 1900's. The distinctive walls in the medina are painted many shades of blue, although no one seems to agree upon the reason. The effect is quite pleasing and I think a better question is, Why doesn't everyone do this? The winding streets of the medina are packed with shops selling an array of crafts, clothing and other items. This is where our students first cut their bargaining teeth.
We stayed in an amazing hotel here (Riad Hicham) which I would recommend to anyone who is visiting. The hotel is like a smaller version of the medina with twisting hallways and hidden passageways. Below is a video of me trying to find my way from my room to the dining area. I never did master this, but I did learn the location of a secret passage that leads to the backstreets of the medina.
