Remona Aly
Thursday 10 October 2024 Pause for Thought, BBC Radio 2The mysterious case of the blue city
Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, Zoe Ball Breakfast Show
The mysterious case of the blue city
Script:
A couple of weeks ago, I was walking in a bubble of blueness, surrounded by blue buildings, blue doors, blue steps and blue cats. Okay, not the cats. But I was in the charming blue city of Chefchaouen, nestled in the lap of the Rif mountains in northern Morocco – a place that gave sanctuary to Muslims and Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, a place that makes you feel at peace as soon as you enter it, and a place that invites you to plunge into the coolness of its hue.
There are many different theories as to why the city is blue. Some say it’s to keep the mosquitoes away, as the little bugs think the streets are the sea. Others believe that the blue symbolises the sky and is a reminder of heaven and the Divine. And others might say painting the city in one colour symbolises unity.
The real reason, though, remains a mystery.
They say memories can be sweet, but others bring a stinging ‘why’ for me. I remember when a close friend and I faced our first challenge, I couldn’t understand why she broke the trust that we’d built over the years. I remember every time I’ve tried to chase happiness head on, I haven’t understood why it’s turned away from me. And I remember being so sure about taking my life in one direction, but couldn’t work out why it diverted to an entirely different path.
It’s been hard for me at times to glean the wisdom behind some of life’s so-called lessons. But perhaps it’s the not knowing that lets me embrace my vulnerability. Perhaps surrendering to the mystery makes my heart keep opening like the secrets of a flower at dawn.
“The miracle of your absence is that I found myself endlessly searching for you.” says the 19th century Indian Muslim poet, Mirza Ghalib.
As I got blissfully lost amid the blueness of the Moroccan city, wondering about the real reason behind its colour, I figured not having all the answers at my fingertips keeps me hungering, searching and striving for more.
As I bid farewell to that unique place, I thought to myself, feeling blue is actually quite a good thing.
To listen, click here Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, Zoe Ball Breakfast Show