August 18th

Awoke and went upstairs to our breakfast- we realized we had not even been up here yet. It was up three flights. When we arrived a family of four were eating. They were Spanish. This northern region of Morocco is influenced more by Spain. Spain actually has some holdings of land here on the African continent, opposite of Gibraltar. Anyway, breakfast. We were both served a pitcher- one tea, one coffee- this is not the norm, but YAY! Also had glass of juice- like tang. Then food: basket of bread; plate with butter, oil, honey, raspberry jam, goat cheese, and olives; and each a Msemen, which is a Moroccan square pastry-type-crepe. I ate mine filled with goat cheese and honey. Very good.  

Now, we went out and about (it was around 0900). Again the contrast (like in Fez's Medina), so quiet! It feels like it is just waiting for all the activity. There were some places starting to open, but was still feeling “sleepy”. We meandered about. There were way more cats and kitties skittering about than people. Actually saw a momma cat with very new kittens- may have been born last night (their eyes weren't open yet). Momma was feeding them in a box that had two bowls set up for her- one food and one water. That was very good of someone!!  Anyway, Jeff, found the way to the upper wall of the Medina and we went up quite a dizzying height/hike of winding stairs to get to it. It would have been something to build those stairs. From the top, looking down- stunning views, made it worth it! Then walked along the wall and found where everyone parks! It was a parking lot (because cars not allowed inside Medina). We found different steps winding back down. Meandered back into the center to a historical landmark, Alcazaba, a kasbah or fortified residence. 

    “The kasbah is one of the first buildings constructed in the city in the Andalusian style. It includes the emir's residence, … a prison, (and) a garden, … and dozens of towers. …”                cited from Wikipedia.

we paid an entrance fee and walked into the garden, toured the prison, and climbed up the tower we were allowed. Grand views from the tower.  The residence is not open to public (it's not a residence still, just not open, but you can see the rooftop and the minaret of the emir's mosque).  There was one building open that has been converted to a museum of sorts, but no English descriptions. Walked more in the gardens and then left. The walls of the kasbah are strikingly brick-red compared to most everything else being different shades of blue and white. I will add here, not everything is blue-hued but a large percentage is. Anyway, we left and went back to our place for a much needed cool down time, siesta baby!

Around oneish, went back out for lunch. Jeff found the rotisserie place we had seen on the taxi ride in yesterday. We sat down, but we were declined service. We didn't know why. We left and found a more mom/pop place and had a half of a rotisserie chicken there. The chicken itself had so much flavor. We also had customary Moroccan plate of salad, bread and frites. I had a great cold coke (hard to get that cold usually), Jeff had a Schweppe's lemon. Then went to get our clothes that we'd dropped off yesterday- they weren't ready- “Four”. So we came back to our place. It is just too hot for man or beast!!! (Jeff went back out to get our clothes as I wrote this).

We did go back up through the Medina. It was quiet again like this morning- we figure this was due to it being Friday night. Finding a small Creperie, we both ordered a savory crepe. I had egg and cheese, Jeff had just cheese. We took them back to our place for supper. A couple of girls were selling small plastic cups with blackberries. Jeff bought one- only 50 cents. He's always helping the little entrepreneurs. We ate supper (including some chocolate we had) on the patio terrace. It was nice to sit, watch the goings on and eat as it has cooled down quite a bit. We stayed up there for sunset but it was not happening. Tomorrow we leave Chefchaouen. It has been a good vibe here, we enjoyed it.