Pandemic empties Moroccan tourist city in shades of blue

CHEFCHAOUEN, Morocco (AP) – When COVID-19 hit Morocco, the mountain town of Chefchaouen was one of the few that did not register any cases. The picturesque city, with facades painted in different shades of blue, isolated its small population from the world and kept the virus away for months.

Now, as the North African nation reopens cautiously and tries to revive its struggling economy, Chefchaouen remains subdued, abandoned by tourists who have long been his blood.

In the narrow streets, idle young people light up cannabis and talk, stopping to offer to sell a little to passersby. Fishermen bring the catch of the day in nearby rivers, selling sardines on street corners, while cats linger, waiting to be rewarded with leftovers. Children carry trays of sweets made by their families to sell.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays, most visitors to the city were local tourists, rather than European and Chinese visitors who often crowd the narrow streets. Shop owners who normally sell rugs, cardigans and souvenirs had a hard time finding customers.

When the night curfew came into effect, established across the country to avoid large gatherings during the holiday season, restaurants in the usually busy main square, near historic Kasbah, had to refuse customers to close early.

In the Middle Ages, the city was populated by Moors, or Moors, fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. Today, it is known as the “Blue Pearl of Morocco” and is one of the main destinations in the kingdom, often overcrowded, with crowded hotels.

Its relaxed vibe, bright blue alleys, extensive mountain landscape and hiking trails have long attracted tourists, especially from Spain and China, whose citizens like to travel without a visa to Morocco.

Despite the specter of the pandemic, which killed more than 7,000 people in Morocco and depressed the economy, Chefchaouen’s closure brought unexpected relief.

The absence of tourists posing for photos beside its iconic carved doors and distinct staircases seemed to unlock one of Morocco’s most photographed spots, giving residents a chance to slow down and soak up the peaceful beauty of their own city.

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