Travelling on in Morocco... to the Rif mountains with beautiful mountain scenery and the very charming and popular city of Chefchaouen.

It's known for the blue colour everywhere - on houses, mosques, government buildings, public squares and even lampposts. It has a 500 year old fortress at its centre

 ... and a vibrant, interesting old town and market place. Narrow streets and lanes marked by blue doors in the early mornings, until the shops open up -

 Quality fruit and vegetables in the market. This was noticeable everywhere - a great variety and well presented. 30% of the economy is based on agriculture, primarily trade with the EU.

Here dried figs

 and carob, chick peas, olives and cheese

Colours for the white wash - only seeing blue and white all around, I guess the insides of the houses are more colourful than the outsides

 Blue, in many shades

 and cactus (agave) silk threads in any colour you want. This is one shop - one wall,

 the next wall

 and the next

 The courtyards of our riad

 and a view from the top
 

 Courtyard of another riad,  now a museum and library

 and the courtyard of the old caravanseri

  More blue walls

and a blue mural

  On a trip to a waterfall in  Azchour National Park -

 In the car park

 ... a not so frinedly sign!

  A challenging foot bridge up stream

 but like everywhere, in the most amazing out of the way places, somewhere to sit and drink mint tea

 For us Aussies it was Anzac Day - remembered by the red poppies in the fields

 Travelling on to Meknes and Fes, rolling plains of grain and chickpeas

a butcher shop

and a stop at the amazing Roman ruins at Volubilis. Once a grand walled city with 8 gates

 The old mill

 

 The central arch

 and the broad roadway leading to it and passing through it, from a main gate in the distance.

 

 A resident stork,

a decorative drain hole,

and a few of the amazingly well preserved mosaic floors

Next time Moulay Idriss, Meknes and Fes